Researchers have found social skills are just as important to children’s academic success as the subjects they study. After implementation of an etiquette curriculum in one year:

• 10-13% increase of academic growth, compared to a 0-4% increase in the district schools who had not implemented the curriculum.
• When etiquette skills are taught, problem behaviors are reduced, learning time is maximized, lending to academic success.

Truth: Schools can’t afford not to teach social skills.

• Schools use left over money from previous years Title 1 funds to provide manners and social skills to their students.
• Parent and teacher and civic organizations such as Rotary clubs, help fund etiquette courses in schools.

Truth: It’s cost-effective to include manners in the curriculum.

According to Public Agenda, school districts lose money as a result of:

• A forty-three percent (43%) loss of productivity-teaching academics, because of time wasted dealing with behavioral issues….

Cost: Students lost opportunities to learn….priceless

• A thirty percent (30%) of turn-over of teachers leaving because of discipline problems in the classrooms……

Cost: An estimated $1million per year for the average sized school of 450 students.

Studies at Harvard University, Stanford Research Institute, and the Carnegie Foundation report:

• “Social skills are the great equalizer; good social skills transcend social class, economic status, academic achievement, and race.”

• Repeated studies show, that up to eighty-five (85%) of a child’s future success depends on social skills-more than academic achievement, or economic or family background.