20-40-60 Etiquette---Manners in the metro?

YOU ASK! WE ANSWER! YOU DECIDE!

QUESTION: When I was young, there was a children etiquette course entitled, “white gloves and party manners. ” It taught girls about hygiene, table manners, phone etiquette. Our youngest is 14 and manners are not taught, but expected at this age..Is there anything available in the OKC area?

CALLIE’S ANSWER: I googled it and couldn’t come up with anything. Keep asking around and always remember that you are her role model.

LILLIE-BETH’S ANSWER: You’re in luck. There are a lot of people in Oklahoma City who care about manners as much as you do, and several who are making sure that today’s children’s grow up knowing how to relate to someone face to face instead of via text, as well as how to act in certain social situations. I, too, took an etiquette class from Jane White when I was young and I believe I remember doing something similar at Dillard’s at Penn Square Mall.

My parents wanted to give me a good foundation, for which I am grateful. They’re also supportive of giving my own children one; two of my children are participating this fall — one for the second year – in Carey Sue Vega’s National League of Junior Cotillion classes, which are both in Oklahoma City and Edmond for a variety of ages.

I also have heard that etiquette is taught as a special event for middle school students at certain schools in Edmond, but I don’t know any details. Also, if your child isn’t up for a class, then check out the “American Girl” series of books, which go far beyond the dolls that made the brand famous. Offerings include books on hygiene, friendship, staying organized, Internet safety, surviving tricky situations and even an etiquette one: “A Smart Girl’s Guide to Manners.”

HELEN’S ANSWER:  You can watch the newspaper for etiquette classes in Oklahoma City. Sometimes department stores have classes scheduled for manners. There are cotillion classes for dance and social manners taught by Carey Sue Vega. In the class students learn social skills at formal dinners as well as conversation skills.

Some of our own guests on 20-40-60 have taught various classes in manners. Hilarie Blaney taught a White Gloves and Party Manners type class for middle school and high school students. Devonne Carter has taught etiquette classes to Girl Scouts and seniors.  Kate Stanton has made etiquette presentations to nonprofit groups, college student organizations, academic programs, Girl Scout troops and birthday parties.