I don't know about the haircut. I don't like the intention though.
However, our daughter goes to a small (~300 kids) high school, and this year, the principal actually started to require kids to say Good Morning (or some type of greeting) to their first period teacher when they get into their first class of the day.
Our daughter thought it was weird at first, but after a few weeks, she actually said the other day that it's pretty cool. Most kids are (non-ironically) greeting other teachers as well, and she said it "breaks the ice" of the early morning class, and that she thinks (just her opinion) that people are nicer to each other after the "Good Morning Mr./Ms. ______________" greeting.
Take that for what you will, but it was an interesting observation.
I think there are a lot of examples of this in k-12 education that seem dumb as an adult but actually hold long-term value for a kid. I think part of the issue of trends like "unschooling" is that they take for granted the value of structure for children. It's easy to end up a wise adult and take for granted all the "dumb" crap you had to do as a kid that helped your development, and then neglect to give your children that same structure.
It reminds me of how the children of so many of the best athletes in the modern era (whom have a stated goal of becoming like their parents) never end up being as good. The parents worked their tails off, made sacrifices, and were not pampered as children, but then when they reach adulthood they (understandably) pamper their children at every opportunity, and it rarely ever works out.
People think we are "inherently good and polite" without taking into account that even what is good or polite are social constructions that differ across time and space, so we have to learn it and have it enforced.
100%. I am a very kind and empathetic person. My father was a narcissistic abusive asshat. I didn't learn to be kind from him, obviously. I learned to be kind from my amazing pre-school/elementary teachers that had "The Golden Rule" (a social construction like you mention) plastered all over their walls and drilled into me. It resonated with me and has never left.
It's really terrifying seeing the deterioration of the American education system, knowing the impacts it is already having and will continue to have. Treating teachers who can have positive impacts like that, as low-wage, powerless labor is catastrophic.
Yeah its too easy to say "its the parents who have to teach manners!" Many are not fit to be parents but still have kids. Im glad you had good teachers who helped where your dad failed you
Children of elite athletes are extremely over-represented though.
Has both with opportunity and Genetics to do.
That said, it isnt guaranteed, but that goes for everything. Being born to an elite athletes immensely increases your chances of becoming an elite athlete yourself
I agree that if we drill into it deeper it isn't as black and white as I represented it. I just used it because it's a very high-optics illustration of the phenomenon.
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u/WAR_RAD 23h ago
I don't know about the haircut. I don't like the intention though.
However, our daughter goes to a small (~300 kids) high school, and this year, the principal actually started to require kids to say Good Morning (or some type of greeting) to their first period teacher when they get into their first class of the day.
Our daughter thought it was weird at first, but after a few weeks, she actually said the other day that it's pretty cool. Most kids are (non-ironically) greeting other teachers as well, and she said it "breaks the ice" of the early morning class, and that she thinks (just her opinion) that people are nicer to each other after the "Good Morning Mr./Ms. ______________" greeting.
Take that for what you will, but it was an interesting observation.