Manners are something used every day to make a good impression on others and to feel good about oneself. No matter where you are - at home, work, or with friends - practicing good manners is important. Teachers and staff at Fulton Independent Schools had been observing that a number of youth are lacking skills in regard to manners and respect. The Family and Consumer Sciences Agent conducted a 6 week program on manners and etiquette. 76 second and third grade students participated in lessons which covered topics on being a friend, bullying, common courtesy, cell phone etiquette, table manners, and manners out in public. The culminating event for students was a sit down meal and demonstrated newly learned table manners. Community members sat with students and critiqued the manners of students using an evaluation tool.

The program was evaluated using a pre and post-test with questions pertaining to information learned during the sessions. Results indicated that 70% of the youth learned more about where you should place your napkin during meals, which foods are ok to eat with your fingers, what is appropriate table talk and basic cell phone etiquette. The community members were very pleased of how the students acted and showed off their newly acquired manners.