Manners Book!

We read this book today.   It is a re-print of an old book that mixes the idea of using good grammar with polite manners.  Very good!

George Washington's Rules of Civility: Rule 21

Today we talked about Rule 21: "Reproach none for the Infirmities of Nature, nor Delight to put them that have in mind thereof."

I was explaining what this means, so I asked the boys if they knew what "handi-cap" means....

Jonathan said, "A hat?"

It took me a minute to figure out why he said that...it makes sense doesn't it? :-)

Manners, George Washington's way

I have been trying to decide the best way to teach the boys some old- fashioned manners. This has been long in coming, but I really wasn't sure about how to go about it (besides nagging them which is very unfruitful to do to any male... young or old).

Last week I revisited George Washington's rules of civility (which we occasionally use for copy-work), and started teaching them. Today we actually practiced some of them which was very fun for the boys.

I really don't know when we will see the fruits of them, and I hope they will remember and practice them on their own.

What is the purpose of good manners? Respecting others! Is that Biblical? I'd say so...

Philippians 2:3-4 (King James Version)
3Let nothing be done through strife or vainglory; but in lowliness of mind let each esteem other better than themselves.
4Look not every man on his own things, but every man also on the things of others.