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SALT LAKE CITY -- April is Good Manners month and one mother in Utah is determined to bring back the study of etiquette.
As the mother of five, Eliana Bonati says she feels very strongly about the "please and thank you" approach to communication, but she insists it's much more than that.
No matter how young you are, it's always proper to escort a lady to her seat. Bonati, an image consultant originally from Brazil, teaches etiquette classes to children. The idea started, she says, with her own five children.
2. To say "please," "thank you" and "you're welcome."
3. To honor and obey my parents at all times.
4. To respect my elders and those in authority.
5. To be kind to my brothers & sisters and my friends & neighbors.
6. To say sorry and ask for forgiveness when I have done wrong.
7. To respect other people's property.
8. To do my part in keeping a clean & healthy environment.
9. To treat others the way I would like them to treat me.
10. By practicing good manners and living by The Golden Rule, I will do my part to build a more polite and happy world.
-The Manners Club
Bonati requested that Gov. Herbert declare April to be "Good Manners Month" in Utah. She believes it goes far beyond civility.
"They learn about feelings, how to deal with bad feelings, how to improve themselves, you know, and this is wonderful," Bonati says.
The classes for children kindergarten through high school are tailored to ages and specific needs. Titles include pirates, princesses and boot camp etiquette. The younger ones learn to conquer habits by getting rid of bad manners monsters.
One mother says, even after a few classes, she sees a difference. Dawn Miller says, "They love it. They look forward to coming. There's a theme, so there's always something fun to look forward to, and they're asking me at night to come and set the table for our family, and they're correcting me on things that I'm doing. So it's definitely sinking in, it's working."
E-mail: cmikita@ksl.com
