Teens and Manners: Is today's generation less polite and more out of line?
YOUNGSTOWN, Ohio - It seems like every generation believes the generation that comes after them isn't as polite as they were.
Etiquette Expert Colleen Harding left her job in sales to teach proper social skills and behavior.
She said she found a 'niche and a need' when she opened the Cleveland School of Etiquette and Corporate Protocol where she teaches children the fundamentals of manners and helps adults polish their professional image.
Her courses included everything from proper introduction and dinning skills, to effective networking and self presentation.
"It seems like since the beginning of time we have complained about young peoples behavior, however I don't think we're doing a good job of managing our expectations," said Harding. "When you tell a child to be polite they don't really know what that means and because we've become a dual income society where both people work no one really has the time to teach them what that means."
Harding believes bad behavior has reached an "epidemic level."
"When ever I see a young person doing something foolish I look at them and go 'how common' because the shock factor is gone. It's everywhere," said Harding. "But when you see a young person put his hand out and shake your hand, or look you in the eyes or introduce himself, or say thank you for something you go 'who is that and where are his parents' because you know somebody is doing something right."
Teaching common courtesy may seem like an old-fashioned concept in a world gradually becoming less formal but Dr. Deirdre Adduci with PysCare in Austintown warns a generation with less formality means the generation will likely have less respect for the needs of others.
"We teach our children often times that they are the center of the universe and I tell parents if you don't tame the kitten, you are going to tame a lion and that's a lot more difficult," said Adduci.
The outcome is a generation trying to find their way into a professional workforce.
"We have a society right now of individuals that look like Justin Bieber trying to answer to a guy who looks like Lee Iacocca, " said Harding. "They don't want to wear sock, they don't want to wear belts and they want to come to work whenever it works for them. That's not how things work."
Harding adds: "At the end of the day your child is the greatest thing you've ever done, but it's not the greatest thing I've ever done. So you need to prepare your child to sit across from someone like me and have them be impressive so that they are able to reach their fullest potential when it comes to careers and occupations."
Dr. Adduci suggests that parents begin introducing proper manner and social skills to their children at a young age. Helping the child understand different behaviors are expected in different situations.
"Start with little things," said Adduci. "Start by having them address their elders by Mister and Misses so-and-so, that they can't interrupt a conversation whenever they feel like it, that they can't always listen to their own impulses."
For more on the Cleveland School of Etiquette, click here.
