U.K. schools to teach manners, make friends

LONDON, March 6 (UPI) -- British schools are spending nearly $20 million to teach children how to make friends, resolve squabbles and learn manners.

The British Department of Education has told principals social and emotional skills are no longer the main responsibility of parents, reported the Sunday Telegraph.

Children will be encouraged to talk about their emotions and play a quiz called "Guess what I am feeling?" They then will design an "emotional barometer" to rate the strength of their feelings.

They will be encouraged to pass round a cuddly toy to stroke to help them understand the "nice" feelings resulting from a compliment.

Some are against the program.

"Once again, schools are being used to make good the deficiencies of parents," said David Hart of the National Association of Head Teachers. "I think there's a distinct danger that we are drifting more and more into the nanny state."