The problem with our public schools

Just read this opening line in an AP story:

Using a young readers' novel called 'The Misfits' as its centerpiece, middle schools nationwide will participate in a 'No Name-Calling Week' initiative starting Monday.

To me, without reading anything more, this highlights the whole problem with our public school system. You don't change behavior with a one week a year reminder not to call names. Indeed, the message from something like this is that it's okay to call names the rest of the year. The only way you can change this kind of rude behavior is to make it a day-to-day party of the school's ethos that the students consistently display good manners. This kind of stuff is useless and teaches kids nothing.