Many people are concerned with the manner of students today. Manners that are not taught at schools are seen as the cause for improper manners. Most schools seem to ignore manners.
   “Children are now smart, but it’s better if they have good manners as well,†said Dr. Gideon Hartono at Faculty of Cultural Sciences, UGM, Wednesday (21/10) ahead of a seminar entitled “Manners for Indonesian Young Generationâ€.
   Emphasizing the importance of this education for students, Gideon insisted to give ‘manner curriculum’ in schools, especially at elementary and junior high schools. “I hope many people give bigger attention to this and schools include manner education as one of their subjects,†he added.
   Moreover, Gideon continued, the government today has given dispensation to make competence-based curriculum suitable to the need of the school. This should be used by educational organizers, especially headmasters and teachers to include manner as one of school subjects.
   Manner Education for Indonesian Young Generation Seminar held on Sunday, 25 October 2009, in the Faculty’s Auditorium by Communication Forum of Yogyakarta Educational Observers (FKPPY) and UGM presented the Head of Education, Youth and Sports of Yogyakarta Province, Suwarsih Madya, Ph.D., the Dean of the Faculty, Dr. Ida Rochani Adi, S.U., and educational observer, Nyoto Suhardjojo. It is hoped about 300-400 teachers and trainers from kindergartens, elementary schools, junior high schools, senior high schools and universities are involved in this seminar. Registration can be done at FKPPY secretariat, Jl. Wahidin 70 Yogyakarta or UGM before the seminar.