Etiquette, the lost liberal art

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To practice his penmanship, a 16-year-old George Washington transcribed “110 Rules of Civility” in the last 10 pages of his journal.

Three decades later, General Washington quoted the old homework verbatim to his soldiers at Valley Forge, reminding them to be mindful of their personal appearance and words around women. These rules of civility, once considered busywork, became an integral part of his adult life. Washington valued proper social decorum for good reason.

Hillsdale students would benefit from a one-credit etiquette course introduced to the core curriculum.

Hillsdale College already acknowledges the virtue of Washington’s ethics, using it for recruiting new students. The admissions department requires top prospective students to read Washington’s guide to civility and write an essay during their annual leadership weekend scholarship competition.

Before freshman arrive on campus, they are required to read Aristotle’s “Nicomachean Ethics” over the summer in preparation for the core curriculum. What many freshman miss, as they attempt to cram the information in before classes begin, is that Aristotle advocates manners as an essential part of the good life.

Aristotle writes in the “Ethics”: “One aspect of this good life is entertaining conversation. It is considered that there is a kind of social conduct that is in good taste: that there are things that are right to say, and a right way of saying them; and similarly with listening.”

With a philosophical justification in Aristotle and a connection to Washington’s decorum in practice, a one-credit etiquette course could teach students useful skills of proper conversation and fine dining while still discussing the good, the true, and the beautiful.

In addition to the academic benefits, students would also receive practical skills that would help them with their careers and personal lives.

Director of Career Services Joanna Wiseley has been teaching etiquette seminars to students unofficially for several years now. As a certified business dining etiquette trainer, she has seen how knowledge of fine social skills has helped her students secure jobs and said she believes an etiquette class would be a benefit for all of campus.

“Students have told me that these training sessions have given them conviction when they have to go to a formal dinner for an interview,” Wiseley said. “Dining is really a lost art. So when the situation arises to become a part of a formal dinner, most people don’t know what to do. A one-credit etiquette class would be very helpful for students as they head out into the professional world.”

Hillsdale students are generally well-behaved and aware of their deportment, but all could benefit from learning how to navigate a professional situation. This course would provide a majority of our students their first opportunity to interact in unique social settings such as smalltalk, table setting, and situational dress.

Head student ambassador and sophomore Maria Theisen said a portion of Hillsdale’s student population may have never been in situations where formal etiquette is necessary.

“Thirteen percent of our students come from homeschooling [backgrounds], and many others come from other smaller learning environments,” Theisen said. “While these places foster individual attention, they sometimes create a comfortable classroom environment lacking in professionalism and new social situations. An etiquette course would teach these students how to approach social situations they may have never experienced before.”

A required etiquette course coincides with the ultimate mission of a liberal arts education, to develop well-rounded students.

“I believe it’s just one more thing to becoming a fully learned person,” Wiseley said, “and can help a person gain so much success in their personal lives.”