David Cameron agrees that social mobility is far less attainable than it ought to be. What's to be done? How do we prevent a hidebound society in which those born sucking on a silver-plated spoon die in exactly the same exalted circumstances while those cutting their teeth on lowly plastic die in the same humble state?
How's this for a solution? President of the Girls' School Association Hilary French says children at state schools should be taught manners. She's convinced exam results alone will not shake up the status quo. Instead she wants children to learn politeness, the art of conversation, "how to speak in coherent sentences", in other words, how to oil the wheels of society.
Manners maketh man and woman too
At her own school, Central Newcastle High, French holds dinners at which pupils can "network, propose toasts and deliver after-dinner speeches to an audience of invited guests".
She is right to be passionate about wanting exactly the same "finishing off" for state school children. They too deserve the confidence which comes with speaking clearly in public, eating a formal meal in the company of strangers without being stumped by convention or etiquette and cultivating the ability to engage others in conversation and put your views forward clearly despite any differences in age, social standing or experience.
Manners maketh man and woman too. The key to social mobility is desire, aptitude and the means to make your potential apparent to university admissions tutors and employers alike. Let's get the politeness classes up and running and give our young people the boost they so badly need.
She is right to be passionate about wanting exactly the same "finishing off" for state school children. They too deserve the confidence which comes with speaking clearly in public, eating a formal meal in the company of strangers without being stumped by convention or etiquette and cultivating the ability to engage others in conversation and put your views forward clearly despite any differences in age, social standing or experience.
Manners maketh man and woman too. The key to social mobility is desire, aptitude and the means to make your potential apparent to university admissions tutors and employers alike. Let's get the politeness classes up and running and give our young people the boost they so badly need.