Teaching ‘Respect’

* Re “Not Standing for Unearned Respect,” Voices, April 7: Obviously, the youthful writer is unschooled in the intricacies of culture and civility. Proper manners require a gentleman to rise in respect for age, gender and/or station in life. These are traits that are supposed to be taught in the home. But the school district obviously observed a need for the program by judging the impolite behavior of the students.

S.W. GUZY JR.

Garden Grove

* I couldn’t agree more with the statement on “respect” made by Jared VanderHorst. In my 53 years of life I have learned something about respect. Respect is earned. If a person must “demand” respect, he or she obviously doesn’t deserve it.

ALAN SANDOVAL

Costa Mesa