High-profile examples of rudeness seem to be coming in bunches.

Congressman Joe Wilson shouted, “You lie!” at President Barack Obama in the middle of a speech before a joint session of Congress. He apparently didn’t like what the president was saying.

Tennis player Serena Williams recently delivered an obscene comment to a line judge telling her she was going to take the ball and “shove it down your f—–g throat.” She apparently didn’t like the decision the official made on where the ball landed.

Rapper, Kayne West, raced onto the stage during the MTV Video Music Awards and interrupted the acceptance speech by 17-year-old country singer Taylor Swift. He did this so he could shout his contention that it was Beyonce that had “made the best music video ever.” He apparently didn’t agree that Taylor Swift was the winner.

So here is what I want to know.

Didn’t these current rudeness champions have Character Education in school? Didn’t they see the posters and slogans explaining the importance of respect? Did they miss the fifty minute assembly where that was covered? Were they absent during Respect Month? OK, so maybe we don’t do enough in school with issues of respect, integrity, fairness and the like. We have to make sure we cover the important stuff.

Certainly, these three must have passed the respect section on the state assessment test. Didn’t they? What about the outcomes-based curriculum that is necessary to pass and exit civics class? They did take that class, right? I am sure their report cards had a detailed section on interpersonal skill development. Certainly, they weren’t given a social promotion without displaying effective interpersonal skills. OK, so respect isn’t covered on the state tests, civics class doesn’t exist anymore, and we threw out that side of the report card a long time ago. Oh well, something had to go so no one got left behind.

Maybe it’s time to bring Joe, Serena, and Kayne back to school. Perhaps they need a day in the Responsibility Room. All schools have one of those, right? (See our article on the Responsibility Room at http://www.chickmoorman.com/TAyoujustgotdetention.html.) That way these public role-models could learn about the choices they made, how it affected others, and design a plan for what they intend to do differently next time. They could also create a meaningful way to make amends. Saying you are sorry isn’t enough, Joe, Serena and Kayne. We want to know what you learned, how you will do it differently next time and how you intend to make amends. When you have that action plan and get it signed by your teacher and parents, come on back to class so you can put it into action. That’s what we do in fifth grade. You’d be welcome here.

Chick Moorman