By Shaughan Sparks
As much as college students slurp their Top Ramen noodles, down their microwave burritos and scoff at the proper rules of etiquette, there come times when knowing which fork to use and how to hail a waiter come in handy.
Such skills may seem like fine china — only used on special occasions — but trying to impress a date, meeting a fianc?”s parents or attending luncheons with recruiters for reputable business firms may make students wish they had paid more attention or even learned at all.
Students in the teen-living class at Granite Park Junior High School will never have to wish they were taught; all they have to do is pay attention.
Teen living is an elective class aimed at preparing students for adulthood. As part of this preparation, the students are instructed in etiquette.
The etiquette instruction falls under one of eight developmental tasks taught in the course: adopting socially responsible behavior.
According to the course instructor Susan Litchfield, the primary focus of the class is helping teen-agers survive in today”s world.
Some may not think that good manners and knowledge of etiquette qualify as survival skills, but Litchfield pointed out that students might have plenty of need to use such skills in business life.
Through the generosity of First Security Corporation, students were able to see firsthand how etiquette can come into play in business dealings.
Earlier this month, First Security hosted a five-course luncheon for the class at the company”s executive dining room.
Students dressed in their best clothing for the occasion and the mater de treated the class like royalty, said Susan Wood, the district”s Adopt-a-School chair.
“So few of these good graces and old graces are being taught these days,” Wood said. However, the graces were in evidence at the luncheon.
Kathy Hillis, First Security”s director of community relations, said, “One of the things we stressed was that this isn”t something we do every day, but it”s a way we entertain our customers.”
Litchfield, Wood and Hillis all complimented the students on their behavior, and Hillis said it was evident the students had learned quite a bit.
Wood commented that experiences like attending the luncheon help students know what types of opportunities exist for them.
Hillis reiterated that opportunities to utilize one”s etiquette skills truly do manifest themselves in business situations.
“I feel that it”s important that people who entertain feel comfortable because when you feel comfortable, you can do your job a lot better. A company really gains when their employees know what to do,” Hillis said.
As evidence of this idea, Both Hillis and Litchfield pointed out that companies who teach other companies etiquette are on the rise.
In light of this trend, it seems teen-living students have a head start.
First Security plans on hosting luncheons for other teen-living classes in the future.
