Lessons in Real World Class

Although I was not actually alive when she was, I was taught my “Emily Post.” In my house that meant not chewing with my mouth open, keeping elbows off the table and politely asking for someone to pass the butter.

Meals have changed over the years, and sit-down suppers are rare. Today there’s texting at the table, eating dinner at the desk and little call for picking up the proper fork. It’s no wonder college students are now signing up for etiquette classes along with Econ 101. At some schools, preparing students for the real world now includes lessons on the correct way to cut your meat and the proper way to place a napkin.

Karen Beatty is director of catering at Thiel College in Pennsylvania. She guides etiquette dinners at Thiel and at Alfred University in New York. Ulana Bihun is a senior who has attended etiquette dinners at Alfred.

(Photo by jonesing1 via Flickr/CreativeCommons)