Etiquette for Everday
By Amanda Water, Staff Writer, The 1960 Sun 9/17/2003

Despite the efforts of Miss Manners and others, etiquette isn’t something that most people adhere to these days, unless sloppiness and general social awkwardness is considered proper etiquette.

Virginia Johnson has set out to revive the lost art of manners, teaching basic etiquette to people from 8 to 80, helping them feel comfortable in any social situation. Having manners isn’t about being a snob, Johnson said, despite what many of her younger pupils initially believe.

“We begin with the premise that manners comes from the heart,” she said.† “It’s about feeling comfortable in any situation, and making other people feel comfortable.” Before starting her company, Contemporary School of Etiquette, Johnson began doing research on etiquette schools, and took a course in March 2001 at the Protocol School of Washington, the place where United States diplomats are trained in proper etiquette, along with women who want to be etiquette consultants.

Since then, Johnson has been offering etiquette classes to people of all ages, although her most popular classes so far have been the “Etiquette Cool” classes for 8 – to – 12 year olds.

During these classes, held at Raveneaux Country Club, the young people learn that making a first impression is very important so they learn how to carry themselves, make introductions and how to properly shake hands with someone.† Johnson then teaches them how to “dine with dignity,” how to navigate the table, and how to RSVP and send thank you notes.† The last part of each four-hour class is a four-course meal where, she said, the students get to put what they’ve learned into practice.

In addition to the Eti-Cool classes, Johnson also teaches Etiquette Edge For Teens for 13 – to – 17 year olds, an age group that has recently expressed more interest in etiquette classes, she added. "A lot of them, especially the 13 – year – olds, are getting ready to date for the first time and go to their first dances, so these classes help them feel more comfortable and confident,” Johnson said. Johnson is also teaching a class this semester at Tomball College called Professional Business Savvy; she will teach a class for a more general audience – Etiquette Edge – during the spring semester.

Although many times it’s the parents – particularly mothers – who sign their kids up for the classes, Johnson said that she always makes the classes fun, and the kids always end up enjoying themselves.

Many might wonder at the necessity of manners and etiquette in such a “non-etiquette” world, but Johnson said that living in a non-etiquette world is precisely the reason to learn it and practice it.

“I’m floored at how people are compared to when I grew up,” Johnson said.† “But I realize that it’s hard as a family these days, particularly with two-income families, to teach etiquette and manners.† I try to show people, particularly the kids, that etiquette helps you in all situations, in everyday life, not just at fancy dinners.”

To find out more about classes, call the Contemporary School of Etiquette at 281-655-9265 or visit www.mannersplus.com.† A new set of classes for 13 – to – 17 year olds is starting soon, with classes available Sept. 21, Oct. 19 or Nov. 15 from 2 – 6 p.m.