Everyone knows that teens and manners mix like Olive oil and
mineral water. The years between 13 and 18 are meant to be a
time of serious rebellion - piercing various body parts, using
the salad fork on pizza - not a time to be learning the ABCs
of etiquette. So what's up with the growing number of teen manners
academies - Etiquette Survival in Los Gatos, and Ideal Images
in Arlington, TX, and why are kids voluntarily enrolling in
these programs?
No,
they're not the Stepford teens. Some sensible kids, like ninth-grader
Gail Swedroe of Saratoga, are just thinking of their futures
- college, grad school, jobs - and want to polish their social
skills. "First impressions count, and I don't want to look
sloppy, " Gail says. Other Emily Post wannabes, like 14 year-old
Cat Gold, are just tagging along: "Lots of my friends were
taking classes, and it sounded like fun."
Both
Gail and Cat are students at the Etiquette Survival, where
they are learning intricate social skills: how to shake hands,
set a proper table and make polite conversation. Plus, they
get advice on posture and dress.
Okay,
so some of this sounds a bit spooky, but it's not as 1950s
as it seems, says manners maven Sue Fox, owner of Etiquette
Survival. "We're not little old ladies with white gloves on
our hands and a book on our heads, " she says. "Today's kids
want to return to an era of courteousness. Plus, this is about
more than just manners. It deals with improving your self-image
and self-esteem."
