Christopher and Olivia Mennig, Nicole Cavanaugh, Annabelle Van Hemert and Jace Garnick watch during Jill Kryston’s etiquette class at the Back Mountain Memorial Library.

Charlotte Bartizek/for the dallas post

In the Sunday, July 27 edition of The Dallas Post, there was an article I wrote on Jill Kryston’s children’s etiquette program that was held at the Back Mountain Memorial Library.

As the reporter for the story, I stayed for the entire hour of the program and observed what went on. What I didn’t and couldn’t tell you in my story is that I learned, too!

My mother taught me basic table manners growing up. I knew enough not to utter impolite words at dinner and to say please and thank you. She showed me to place the fork on the left of the plate and the knife and spoon to the right. But I never knew some of what Kryston touched on.

The first thing I learned was to always pass food to the left. I usually just pass it in the direction it is already going in. And if I get the mashed potatoes first, I look to see if the person on either side of me is occupied with a plate of something. If the person on the left is free, he gets the mashed potatoes. If the person on the right is free, I’d pass it to the right.

Next, I was shocked to find out the proper way to eat a dinner roll. Kryston says you should rip off individual pieces one at a time. Each piece would be buttered and eaten separately. So basically it’s wrong to cut your roll in half, butter it and munch on it. Wouldn’t the correct method take forever? And furthermore, wouldn’t it make a mess? I can just imagine myself getting crumbs all over the place. To me, it seems like playing with your food.

I was just plain disappointed to find out I’m supposed to be dipping the spoon in my soup away from me. It doesn’t seem right.

I’m not knocking the etiquette class or manners in general. They are important in keeping us a civilized society. But will anyone really care, or even notice, if I dip my soup spoon away from me instead of toward me? Nevertheless, if I were a parent, I would send my child to Kryston’s etiquette class. I hate it when kids act up at the dinner table.
 

About the Author

Rebecca Bria has been reporting for The Dallas Post since June of 2007. She is a 2007 graduate of Wilkes University and previously interned with the company at The Weekender and The Times Leader.

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