By BETH THOMAS
Lifestyles Editor
M abel, Mabel, if you’re able, keep your elbows off the table.
Who doesn’t remember their mother or grandmother reciting this little rhyme at meal time to remind little arms that they don’t need to rest on the table? Maggie Miller, age 5, said learning that nursery rhyme was her favorite part of Posh Prince and Princess Camp that she recently attended through The Delta School of Etiquette in Greenwood.
“Maggie loves the Delta School of Etiquette,” said Holly Miller, Maggie’s mother. “She learns simple things like not to put her elbows on the table and how to introduce her friends and speak to her elders. I think that any time manners can be reinforced it’s a good thing.”
Putting your child in etiquette classes is becoming very popular among American parents, especially in the South, and The Delta School of Etiquette founder Michelle Coppage has found her business very successful.
“People care about manners, and parents are very receptive to putting their kids in etiquette classes,” she said. “The purpose of The Delta School of Etiquette is to teach children not only manners, but also how to treat people well and boost self confidence.”
Coppage has an extensive background in etiquette and education. She is certified through the American School of Protocol and is qualified to teach proper etiquette to first graders through college-aged adults.
She teaches classes year-round for children ages 3 through fifth grade and hosts a prince and princess-themed manners camp for them in the summer.
“They love to dress up, and they get really excited and have so much fun,” Coppage said. “It’s amazing seeing all that they retain, and the etiquette they learn makes them feel all grown up.”
Maggie has been going to Posh Prince and Princess Camp for the last three summers, and her mother said its something Maggie really looks forward to. “I don’t know if there’s anybody who loves etiquette classes more than Maggie does,” Miller said. “When she comes home, she’s always wanting to go back.”
At camp, kids do more than sit at a table drinking tea in frilly dresses and knightly armor. They participate in fun crafts and work on conversation skills as well. Coppage leads them in a table manners lesson complete with a full meal and real silverware and crystal. “Surprisingly, we’ve yet to break anything,” Coppage said laughing. While at the table, kids learn the uses of each piece of silverware and practice proper ways to speak at the table.
“It’s important to start teaching kids manners when they’re young, that way, they have something they can build on as they get older,” Coppage said. “We want good manners to come naturally to them and be something they don’t have to think about doing.”
Miller said she appreciates the skills her daughter is learning through camp and etiquette classes. “When we were young, parents encouraged their kids to go to art camp and take music lessons rather than focusing on etiquette. While art and music are important, I think learning proper etiquette is equally important because those skills will carry you far in life,” she said.
Miller is also impressed with all that Maggie is retaining. “While her manners are far from perfect, it gives me hope that one day they’ll be a lot better,” she said with a laugh.
Coppage said that her classes tend to bring shy kids out of their shell.
“A lot of shy kids are not as shy when they leave,” she said. “I think the classes are very beneficial to shy children because a lot of the work we do is one-on-one. A lot of times the more outgoing kids are able to bring the shy kids out more.”
Miller said that Maggie has gained a lot of confidence from being in etiquette classes. “The classes really help boost kids’ confidence,” she said. “Maggie is learning how to properly greet people and interact with them. That’s a big deal to a 5-year old.”
Coppage said everybody feels included in her classes, and that’s important. “Being nice and having good manners has nothing to do with having money,” she said. “It has everything to do with who you are as a person, and good raising contributes to that. Proper etiquette starts in the home; I just reinforce it.”
Coppage teaches older children the importance of dressing properly for an interview and the right way to shake a person’s hand. “With more and more colleges requesting interviews with applicants before accepting them, people are finding that there’s a lot more that goes into getting an education that academics. It matters how you present yourself,” she said. “I think Clarence Thomas summed it up well when he said ‘Good manners will open doors that the best education cannot.”
For more information on The Delta School of Etiquette, visit it on Facebook or call Michelle Coppage at 455-5382.
nContact Beth Thomas at 581-7233 or bthomas@gwcommonwealth.com.
