According to the National Education Association, teaching  manners and etiquette at an early age is crucial in order for youth to have a successful future. Many children do not have the opportunity at home to learn this skill, which leaves educators and other organizations with the responsibility to instill this important life skill in youth.

When discussing the needs of students in the local school system, the 4-H Manners Program is requested on a regular basis more and more each year. This school year, more students were reached than in previous years. Twelve elementary classrooms participated in the 4-H Manners Program that consisted of approximately 400 students ranging from K-6^th grades. For each session, students focused on different topics including what it means to be nice and polite, table manners, meeting and greeting and phone etiquette.

At the beginning of each session, students were asked to complete pre and post-tests to examine their knowledge gained from each lesson. Students also participated in numerous activities each lesson including practicing manners at the dinner table, meeting and greeting someone for the first time and learning how to answer the telephone.

 Post-test Results:

 95% of students reported knowing how to apply table manners at home, school and other     occasions

 100% of students named at least one example of cell phone etiquette

 90% of students reported feeling they had improved their meeting and greeting skills when   meeting someone for the first time