Clayton, After reading DR. YAMASHIDA'S PIECE ON Confucianism I could not help to compare the litany of topics addressed in these national ethics texts(Getting along w/others, treating animals with kindness, being industrious, respecting teachers/adults, being kind, not inconveniencing people, etc.) with a modern Western document ( The Secretaries Commission on Achieving the Necessary Skills-S.C.A.N.S. ) which outlined some very similar soft skills that were required in the American workplace in the 90s.
You may be interested that that document & other writings in that place and time talked about the importance of soft skills and that the lack of those skills was often the reason people are fired. You don't get fired cause you can't cook a hamburger.... you get fired because you are late, you don't show up every day, you are not self directed in accomplishing tasks assigned to you, you don't get along with people, you're dishonest, or your workspace is not very neat.
Frankly I think the world would be a better place if large numbers of people subscribed to these tenets. I am always telling my students that the magic words( please and thank you ) will help you a great deal in life. I am very conscious of my interactions with people particularly people who work in service industries. Dr.Yamashida in this piece spoke about a child who asked for water and when it did not arrive posthaste... this child went over to the well and scolded that servant. That child was admonished.
Although Confucianism is steeped in antiquity I think we as teachers can make a huge difference with the kids we teach by pointing out and extolling these virtues. I often use a movie "Paying it Forward" and the lesson is quite clear: do your best to treat everyone with kindness... if perhaps somebody does something for you from their heart pay them back by doing something good for three other individuals. The students really get it !
Thanking You Again For Stretching Me
( at my age I don't stretch very well...at least without bruising.)
Together We Can, Rand
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