Do you wish you could make up the rules for dating at Edina High School? A rule that would make guys shower more, or one that that made girls talk less?

Last month, students in Elizabeth Nimmo’s AP World History classes learned about the medieval practice of chivalry. “The Code of Chivalry,” Mrs. Nimmo said, “dictated social norms of behavior for a knight, including rules for romance and affection.” While men today “no longer court their lady loves with ballads and poems, there are still behaviors desired of both men and women in order to win the affection of the opposite sex.”

Each year, the students in Mrs. Nimmo’s AP World History classes work to define a 21^st century code of chivalry and courtly love. Students split up by gender and compose a list of what they wish the opposite sex would do differently.

Why is the assignment such a popular activity with students? Mrs. Nimmo said she believes “students are curious about what the opposite sex thinks is a ‘turn on’ and what isn’t.” While there’s nothing new about trying to be attractive to others, Mrs. Nimmo observes that the “romantic norms continue to change over time.”

After taking some of the lists from Mrs. Nimmo’s classes, interviewing some students and adding our own opinions, this list was produced.

Girls wish boys would…

• Wear sweaters and Sperrys, they make you look nicer
• Open the door for us, it’s polite
• Give more compliments, they boost our self-esteem
• Make the first move
• Be honest, we like to know the truth, and it eliminates space for awkwardness
• Brushing your teeth and showering is just good for your overall health
• “Have guys not be so cocky about everything they do,” Madeleine Eden, a junior, said
• “Guys should do all the things they did to get their girlfriend even when he’s dating her,” Senali Diasabeygunawardena, a sophomore, said

Boys wish girls would…

• Not use “like” as filler in conversation
• Similarly, abbreviating things and then pluralizing them = not cool. At all. For example, “awks” is not a good way to abbreviate awkward
• Realize that guys have feelings too
• Not send one word texts
• Make the first move
• Know that they don’t always need to wear makeup
• Make eye contact
• Not make inside jokes with your friends around us. It’s really awkward (but not awks). Similarly, laughing randomly and refusing to tell us what it’s about is pretty irritating
• Take a compliment when we give it. We’ll give you more of them that way
• “Girls shouldn’t gossip so much,” said Jon Yang, a junior

Even if the population of sweater wearing boys does not grow and the sayings “like” and “awks” don’t disappear from Edina, keep in mind what each gender thinks of the other. It may help you someday.