Teens Demanded Etiquette Classes?

Yes! In 1939, teens in the United States demanded instruction in good manners. That this wave of high school enthusiasm was nation-wide, was reported by Edith Stern in the educational journal, School and Society. – “Homes no longer teach gracious behavior, she finds, and youngsters find themselves miserable and embarrassed for lack of definite instruction. The teen-ager has discovered that good manners have something to do with popularity, and ultimately, says Miss Stern, with the ability to get and hold jobs.” 

Young Americans Demand Lessons in 

Best Manners

Young Americans are demanding—yes, demanding—lessons on manners. Starting with how to eat an olive in one lesson, on up to the subtleties of how to be polite though annoyed—high school boys as well as girls are surprising their teachers by eagerness to learn courtesy and tact. That the wave of high school enthusiasm is nation-wide is reported by Edith Stern in the educational journal, School and Society. 

Santa Rosa, California, has had to limit its course in etiquette to juniors and seniors, to avoid overcrowding. Students in Phoenix, Arizona, and in Minneapolis have written their own etiquette books, based on hundreds of questions asked by the boys and girls themselves. In a Missouri classroom, a teacher asked 41 freshmen how many had ever made an introduction and got seven raised hands in reply. When she asked if the class would like to be taught, a chorus of “Yeahs” arose. 

Psychological reasons backing up the young people’s eagerness to acquire polish are suggested by Miss Stern. Homes no longer teach gracious behavior, she finds, and youngsters find themselves miserable and embarrassed for lack of definite instruction. The teen-ager has discovered that good manners have something to do with popularity, and ultimately, says Miss Stern, with the ability to get and hold jobs. 

“New and interesting devices of instruction” are being experimentally evolved. A Baltimore high school has rehearsals of school dances. Baltimore seventh graders listen and learn telephone etiquette by aid of two disconnected phone receivers at ends of a long table. A California school teaches how to order dinner, using real menus supplied by local hotels. Elmdale, Kansas, uses the dramatic method, showing good restaurant manners acted at one side of a stage, and everything wrong at the other side. – San Pedro Pilot, 1939

Etiquette Enthusiast, Maura J Graber, is the Site Editor for the Etiquipedia© Etiquette Encyclopedia

First Choice Etiquette

Etiquette Class is Number 1 with Students

Teen Girls' Fashions of the 1920s

From the Madera Tribune of 1925 

"Beginning next Monday, a number of short courses will he offered to Madera high school students once a week for five weeks, advance registration made today show clearly the trend of student preference. The highest registration was in etiquette. For this subject, 115 students indicated a first preference, 56 a second preference, and 42 a third preference. Next in popularity was a course for girls in the care of the automobile. Forty-three students took this course as their first choice. Thirty-nine enrolled for radio, 29 girls for folk dancing, 27 for parliamentary practice, and so on down the line. Much interest in the courses is being displayed by students."

The following week —

New Courses Prove Popular in Madera Union High School

The series of short courses recently introduced in Madera High began Monday morning with most of the classes well attended. Miss McSweeney’s Etiquette class has the largest attendance while Miss Johnson’s class of Etiquette and Mr. Mathews’ class on the Care of the Automobile, rank second with an enrollment of 47 each. The various courses are all very practical and offer the student advantages which he doesn’t secure In his regular school course. Following are the classes and enrollment in each:

Etiquette—(girls) Miss McSweeney, 58. Etiquette—(boys) Miss Johnson, 47. Radio—Mr. Sheldon, 42. Care of the Automobile—Mr. Mathews, 47. Aesthetic Dancing—Miss Richter, 25. Etiquette—(girls) Miss Bennink, 24. Parliamentary Law—Mr. Thompson, 22. Ornamental Gardening—Mr. Moffit, 21. Basketry and Sewing—Miss Worthington, 18. Short Stories—Miss Petty, 15. Salesmanship—Miss Campbell, 12 Modern Drama—Mrs. Hubbard, 12. Fancy Stitches—Miss Jones, 7. Music Appreciation—Miss Short, 3.

Etiquette Enthusiast, Maura J Graber, is the Site Editor for the Etiquipedia© Etiquette Encyclopedia