School of Etiquette
When I was a little girl, somewhere around 4th or 5th grade, my Mom decided to put me in a class to teach me proper etiquette. She is very knowledgeable about good manners, but she thought it would be fun for me. It was a lot of fun! My best girlfriend and my boyfriend were in my class. These classes were held on school nights so we got to stay up later than normal. Who could ask for more than that?
In my grown up years I mentioned taking this course and people were surprised that classes like that even existed. I Googled School of Etiquette and almost 9,000,000 schools came up. So, not only did they exist, but they appear to be in full swing today.
People are interested in taking courses like these to learn social graces. Young people learn how to interact with their peers. When we learn the appropriate way to act we are more self confident and respectful of yourself and others. Since everyone likes to be treated well we will acquire more friendships.
There are schools that teach phone etiquette. When children are old enough to answer the phone they must know to use their best manners. If they are asked to leave a message it is important to remember to do so.
Children can learn the proper way to set a table. This is very beneficial to the family to be able to pitch in and help with things around the house. If you have company over the children can learn to be the perfect host or hostess.
Knowing proper manners will help children in school. When children are disciplined and behave well there is less confusion in the class room and more learning can be retained.
For the class I took there was no way that we could be late. That would have been very rude! The girls were required to wear a special occasion dress, and the boys wore white shirts with a tie and trousers. We were taught to sit like a lady. Keep our backs straight, our knees together and cross our feet at the ankles. The boys were taught things like holding the door for us and walk on the street side of the sidewalk when walking with a female. We were shown how to set a table and which silverware to use for what and when to use them.
In this class two rows of chairs were lined up. The girls were asked to sit in one row and the boy's in the other. When we were ready to perform a task with a boy we were asked to pair off. The girl and boy in the first chairs would be partners and on down the line. My little boyfriend and I would always pick the sixth chair so we could be partners.
For our last class we had a celebration dinner. The tables were already set and decorated, and the meal that had been prepared for us smelled delicious. We were all lined up in our little chairs. I remember being so excited, and thinking not to fidget, sit up straight, remember to put my napkin in my lap and so on. I had on my favorite blue and white special occasion dress, and was feeling very grown up.
Then we were asked to pair off and come to the table. My little boyfriend held his arm for me to take and escorted me to my seat. I remember walking to the table. He pulled out the chair for me. I stepped in front of the chair pulled my dress out on each side and went to sit down. Instead of getting ready to push my chair in for me he pulled it out from under me and I sat right down on the floor.
We all laughed and had a delightful dinner!
I hope you enjoyed this story, but the most important thing here is our manners. In my opinion our society is getting a bit slack in their behavior. Is it that we are not being taught good manners at home? Do people just not care how they act in public anymore?
If we are not sure about what proper etiquette is, maybe we should take a course so we will be able to teach our children. Good manners start at home. Children learn from their parents and mimic what they do. Parents have to set a good example and practice what they preach.
Why not find a school near you and send your children? They would probably have fun and there is always something new to learn.
Unless there is a medical condition that prevents children from behaving properly it is a reflection on the parents when their children do not behave. So teach your children well.
In my grown up years I mentioned taking this course and people were surprised that classes like that even existed. I Googled School of Etiquette and almost 9,000,000 schools came up. So, not only did they exist, but they appear to be in full swing today.
People are interested in taking courses like these to learn social graces. Young people learn how to interact with their peers. When we learn the appropriate way to act we are more self confident and respectful of yourself and others. Since everyone likes to be treated well we will acquire more friendships.
There are schools that teach phone etiquette. When children are old enough to answer the phone they must know to use their best manners. If they are asked to leave a message it is important to remember to do so.
Children can learn the proper way to set a table. This is very beneficial to the family to be able to pitch in and help with things around the house. If you have company over the children can learn to be the perfect host or hostess.
Knowing proper manners will help children in school. When children are disciplined and behave well there is less confusion in the class room and more learning can be retained.
For the class I took there was no way that we could be late. That would have been very rude! The girls were required to wear a special occasion dress, and the boys wore white shirts with a tie and trousers. We were taught to sit like a lady. Keep our backs straight, our knees together and cross our feet at the ankles. The boys were taught things like holding the door for us and walk on the street side of the sidewalk when walking with a female. We were shown how to set a table and which silverware to use for what and when to use them.
In this class two rows of chairs were lined up. The girls were asked to sit in one row and the boy's in the other. When we were ready to perform a task with a boy we were asked to pair off. The girl and boy in the first chairs would be partners and on down the line. My little boyfriend and I would always pick the sixth chair so we could be partners.
For our last class we had a celebration dinner. The tables were already set and decorated, and the meal that had been prepared for us smelled delicious. We were all lined up in our little chairs. I remember being so excited, and thinking not to fidget, sit up straight, remember to put my napkin in my lap and so on. I had on my favorite blue and white special occasion dress, and was feeling very grown up.
Then we were asked to pair off and come to the table. My little boyfriend held his arm for me to take and escorted me to my seat. I remember walking to the table. He pulled out the chair for me. I stepped in front of the chair pulled my dress out on each side and went to sit down. Instead of getting ready to push my chair in for me he pulled it out from under me and I sat right down on the floor.
We all laughed and had a delightful dinner!
I hope you enjoyed this story, but the most important thing here is our manners. In my opinion our society is getting a bit slack in their behavior. Is it that we are not being taught good manners at home? Do people just not care how they act in public anymore?
If we are not sure about what proper etiquette is, maybe we should take a course so we will be able to teach our children. Good manners start at home. Children learn from their parents and mimic what they do. Parents have to set a good example and practice what they preach.
Why not find a school near you and send your children? They would probably have fun and there is always something new to learn.
Unless there is a medical condition that prevents children from behaving properly it is a reflection on the parents when their children do not behave. So teach your children well.
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