CIVIC MINDEDNESS
Government efforts to build a gracious society
What can governments and schools do to promote graciousness?
Do you think that in today’s society young people are not gracious?
Yes
No
How do you feel when you witness inconsiderate behaviour?
Outraged
Disgusted
Uneasy
Disappointed
Hope that this is not representative of the average SIngaporean
Guilty
Sometimes we fall asleep on public transport and inadvertently deprive those who need a seat
Legislations/Laws
No eating on the MRT so as to keep public transport clean for the rest of the commuters
No smoking in public places
Fines imposed on those who litter
Create public awareness through organising campaigns
Examples
Give up your seat campaign
Move to the back of the bus campaign
Purpose of these campaigns is to educate the public on socially gracious behaviour
Posters and videos are showcased around the various stations and sometimes associating characters
Posters, advertisements on TV, radios, jingles (Phua Chu Kang and Dim Sum Dollies) (Use of ambassadors - celebrities and mascots)
Singapore kindness campaign
Schools efforts to build a gracious society
Schools teaching the young (habit forming from young)
Singa award
ECHA awards
Singa resigning as evidence of deteriorating courtesy. It has been a mascot for our courtesy campaign for many years (since 30,40 years )
Yet, the current state of lack of graciousness in our young Singaporeans has caused Singa to call it quits
There are more road rage cases in the news
Young people theses days take things for granted. They are a pampered lot of people who expect their whim and fancy to be catered to.
They cannot accept the theory “delayed gratification” They have this self-Center Ed mentality where everything is about ‘me, me, me!”
Use of media platforms to spread negativity
Negative and controversial news sells and attracts more viewership so it is more rampant online
Examples of ungracious behaviour
People making a mess, people being rude to sales persons or being demanding, people who do not give up their seats on public transport
Dog-eat-dog society
Competition leads to selfishness
Graciousness
Well-mannered and civilised
More well-aware of the importance of graciousness because life is getting more hectic and difficult through the use of social media (which encourages info being spread like wildfire) so young people become more civilised in handling arguments