More Parents Outsourcing Etiquette

John Blackstone Reports On Recent Flourishing Of Etiquette Schools

(CBS) 

But who teaches the rules may be as important as the rules themselves. And some experts in family relationships say parents today may be outsourcing too many lessons.

"We're losing the teaching aspect of parenting," says Jerrold Shapiro, a family counselor who often helps families to spend more time together.

"Maybe we need to look at the etiquette classes as a symptom of what we're not doing and considering what we should be doing," says Shapiro.

Certainly the graciousness and decorum at etiquette school is far different than the mealtimes students describe at home.

"It's like, the TV's raging, and then my mom's trying to talk to someone on her phone, and then the cats are eating my dinner and taking my spot," says etiquette student Montana Mirandilla about a typical mealtime experience at her home.

"There is no family eating," says Philip Chuzhbinin, another student of etiquette. "We're always in separate rooms watching TV."

Some trace this decline in civility back to the 1960s and 70s, an era of rebellion and freedom. It was the formative years for many of today's parents.

"Parents aren't as savvy themselves about some of these skills, growing up in the hippy dippy era, you know," says Seid.

Which raises the question: Is it the kids or the parents who should be studying etiquette?