The easy way to teach children how to be polite is by telling them what to do.

That is giving them the form.

Once they know the form it becomes easier to duplicate it.

Another way to teach them how to be polite is by helping them understand what being polite does. And then what it can do for them. It’s a learning that creates an idea of how being polite shifts them from being an individual to a caring and responsible member of the group. It is helping them see what being polite is for. That is, for the other, for themselves, for all those involved, and for them as a group.

That is giving them the function.

Once they know the function, they’ll find it easy to develop a form that represents their learning and what they want to do.

Learning function over form doesn’t make it easier to implement the learning. It makes the implementation slightly more intense. However, what this does is create a small moment of connection that is being felt. That’s how the implementation becomes easier.

Walking the talk is still an everyday effort and learning. Which may make it easier for some to stick to the form and let go of the function.

Function over form? Form over function? It’s a choice. Not only when it comes to being polite.