A Portuguese school has sparked controversy after asking parents to teach their children better manners.
The poster, which was displayed on the walls of a school in Portugal, has been shared on Facebook, sparking debate from parents across the globe.
The simple poster features just a white background and black writing, and explains in five bullet points the standard of manners the school expects parents to teach their children including being ‘honest’, ‘organised’ and to ‘not talk with their mouth full’.
The poster starts: ‘We would like to remind you that magic words such as hello, please, you’re welcome, I’m sorry, and thank you, all begin to be learned at home.
‘It’s also at home that children learn to be honest, to be on time, diligent, show friends their sympathy, as well as show utmost respect for their elders and all teachers.’
The poster then goes on to remind parents of the other types of good behaviour they expect children to be learning from their parents at home:
‘Home is where they learn to be clean, not talk with their mouths full, and how/where to properly dispose of garbage.
‘Home is also where they learn to be organized, to take good care of their belongings, and that it’s not ok to touch others.
‘Here at school, on the other hand, we teach language, math, history, geography, physics, sciences, and physical education. We only reinforce the education that children receive at home from their parents.’
Facebook users have flooded the image with opinions, with many feeling the school was unfair to address parents in this way.
One commenter pointed out that not every child has parents that are always available, ‘Yeah that’s great when they have a parent at home most families both mum n dad work twelve hours or more, so who’s going to teaching them?’
Another social media user was of the opinion that everyone should contribute to educating children on manners, ‘Whether a teacher or not anyone who hands a child something and there’s no thankyou should be saying … What do you say?? And when a request is made from a child and no please… what do you say?? It’s not hard to get basic manners into kids if you start early’
Another Facebook user wrote their own version of the poster back to the teachers that had created it, ‘Dear Teachers I personally have never criticised a teachers teaching methods or questioned why my child is not top of the class. Before starting school my child manors were in line with all age appropriate learning outcomes.
‘So until you can show that every child in your care is exceeding all your core learning outcomes and achieving above average marks. Please don’t criticise other peoples parenting. You don’t go home with your students and you don’t know what their parents go through to put food in their bellies and a roof over their heads.’
Some commenters, however, agreed with the poster, ‘Manners & politeness starts at home if parents don’t care then children don’t care.’
Another added: ‘All schools should be sending this message as it is a reminder to parents.’
How would you feel if your child came home with this poster? Tell us your thoughts in the comment box below!
