The more things change, the more they stay the same...

Here's an excerpt from a book called The School of Manners printed in 1701. The section is called
Of Behaviour among Boys,

1. As near as may be, converse not with any but those that are good, sober and virtuous; Evil communication corrupts good Manners.

2. Be not quarrelsome, but rather take patiently, than mischievously occasion any manner of wrong.

3. Reprove thy Companions as often as there shall be occasion for any evil, wicked unlawful, or indecent Action or Expression.

4. Give always place to him that excelleth thee in Quality, Age or Learning.

5. Be willing to take those words or actions as jestings, which thou hast reason to believe were designed to such: and fret not at thy companions innocent mirth.

6. If thy Companion be a little too gross of sarcastical in Speaking, yet strive not to take notice of it, or be moved at all therewith.

7. Abuse not thy Companion either by word or deed.

8. Deal justly among boys, thy equals; as solicitously as if thou wert a man with men, and about businesses of higher importance.

9. Be not selfish altogether, but kindly, free and generous to others.

10. Jog not the Table or Desk on which another writes.

11. At play, make not thy hands, face, or cloaths dusty or dirty: nor sit upon the ground.

12. Avoid sinful and unlawful recreations: all such as prejudice the welfare either of body or mind.

13. Scorn not, Laugh not at any for the natural infirmities of Body or mind, not because of them affix to any vexing title of contempt and reproach.

14. Adventure not to talk with thy Companions about thy Superiors, to raise discourse reflection upon, or touching another's Parents, or Master: to publish any thing of thine own family or Household affairs. Children must meddle only with the affairs of Children.

My favorite rule is # 10. Boys need to be told these things! They needed to be told 300 years ago, and they need to be told today. Hilarious, isn't it? You're laughing because either you've seen a boy do that, or you are a boy and it still makes you laugh!

Boys will be boys. They will fight, get dirty, laugh at bodily gas, tease and wrestle. The rules have not changed for the last 300 years! We can't blame bad behavior on tv, or video games or lack of proper social programs. The answer is the same now as it was then-- we parents need to teach our children to:

1.Fear God.

2. Honour the King.

3. Reverence thy Parents.

4. Submit to thy Superiors.

5.Despise not thy inferiors.

6. Be courtious with thy Equals.

7. Pray daily and devoutly.

8. Converse with the Good.

9. Imitate not the wicked.

10. Hearken to instruction.

11. Be desirous of Learning.

12. Love the School.

13. Be always cleanly.

14. Study Verture.

15. Provoke no Body.

16. Love thy Schoolfellows.

17. Please thy Master.

18. Let not play entice thee.

19. Restrain thy Tongue.

20. Covet future Honour, which only Vertue and Wisdom can procure.