That English charm

last updated 8 January 2015

London

Britons have become so rude that the Department for Education has begun mandating politeness classes for elementary-school children. The $18 million civility program, instituted in 3,500 primary schools, includes lessons in forgiving and complimenting. “It used to be that, as the teacher, you automatically had the respect of the children,” said headmaster David Pannett, “but the social skills have become so distorted that’s no longer the case.” Nowadays, European hotel owners consistently vote the Brits as the second most obnoxious tourists. Only Germans are deemed worse.