College grads taught table manners: MSNBC article link

Parent Cafe
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<p><a href=“http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/8049720/[/url]”>http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/8049720/&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p&gt;

<p>Interesting. I’d also note our College of Business sponsors an annual formal dinner for its seniors for just this purpose.</p>

<p>Bill</p>

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<p>That’s hot.</p>

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<p>During the MIT “Independent Activities Program” (IAP) in January, there’s been a one-day course since 1993 called “Charm School” which has a curriculum including schmoozing, telephone/email etiquette, table manners, interviewing, non-verbal communication, networking, and telling someone something they’d rather not hear. They award official Charm School diplomas to those who complete six or more courses during the day, and it’s a popular activity.</p>

<p>It’s more lighthearted than those you cite, KYDad, but I’m really glad to see schools are taking these sorts of skills seriously. They definitely DO contribute to business success.</p>

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<p>We had something like that at our school too. A formal dinner type thing where they go over stuff like that.</p>

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<p>H and I have an old friend who works for McKinsey and Company. Having dinner together after he started to work for them, it was very clear to us that they’d shipped him off to “charm school”. When our kids were younger we went through a period when every night at dinner we’d cover a little something from Emily Post. I like to think it will save them some future embarrassment.</p>

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<p>This is nothing new. In the last 15 years or so, many corporations have started etiquette classes for their new managers, because they found that they couldn’t take them to dinner with clients and have them properly represent the company. And if someone will be going overseas, there are extra classes on the etiquette of the country.</p>

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<p>Standard table etiquette is something I had to learn with hard practice at the LA World Affairs Council sessions. Now I freak when there’s a butterknife missing or a dessert fork not present… hrmm… some high schools are starting to do it as well.</p>

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<p>My college also offered the dinner too. A fair number of kids go to it, mainly business majors.</p>

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<p>Oh, my son needs this so badly! I’m buying him an etiquette book before he starts college in the fall. But a quick course would be even better!</p>