New technology calls for new etiquette
This 24-page booklet, published by the Bell Telephone Service in the 1950s, was distributed to teach children how to use the telephone and the correct manners for telephone conversations. Suggested activities are even included in the back. The rotary phone is obsolete, but have telephone manners (p. 16) also changed? If so, what are the new expectations for polite behavior for smart phones?
Ask students to consider why a society should …or shouldn’t have standards for behavior (manners or etiquette). How does one learn manners in the 21st century? Who teaches these lessons in correct behavior – parents? teachers? peers? Should students have more lessons in polite behavior? If so, what behaviors should be covered? Student may or may not have very different views from adults.
The entire booklet is available here “Classic Rotary Phones“
For more by this author, Cynthia W. Resor, see
- Exploring Vacation and Etiquette Themes
- Relationship Etiquette: Classroom Activity
- 19th Century Visiting or Calling Cards
- Dating and automobiles
Blog posts:
Full-text etiquette and advice books online:
Glory of Woman: An Introduction to Prescriptive Literature, Duke University Libraries
This excellent website provides additional information about prescriptive literature and an extensive bibliography of works- Mid-nineteenth century Advice Books
- Coronet Instructional Films.
Short videos on marriage, dating, and other topics from the 1940s, 1950s and 1960s. Titles include What to Do On a Date (1951); Dating Do’s and Don’ts (1949); and Are You Popular? (1947). Many more are available at Internet Archive
Glory of Woman: An Introduction to Prescriptive LiteratureAbout the header image: Hill’s Manual of Social and Business Forms: Guide to Correct Writing by Thomas E. HIll, 1875.