As a boy, George Washington, the first president of the United States, copied the following "Rules of Civility" into a copywork booklet as part of his educational activities. The educator Charlotte Mason promoted copywork as part of her educational curriculum.
The following copywork activity provides several opportunities for children:
- reading practice
- handwriting practice
- expanding vocabulary
- discerning a message
- comparing historic, modern, and universal ideas about civil behavior
- imagining the time period during George Washington's boyhood
Explore ideas about modesty, social rank, courtesy, table manners, and personal hygiene. Have fun comparing old-style language such as "affright" and "bedew" and see if you can understand what the author meant by various rules.
You can print out the complete copywork booklet: George Washington's "Rules of Decent Behavior" (pdf), along with instructions for binding and trimming page edges if desired. The "Rules of Civility" are lengthy and can be presented in three parts, if desired:
- General Public Conduct
- Social Skills
- Table Manners
George Washington's "Rules of Civility" General Public Conduct
Children may enjoy translating some of the rules of general conduct from the older style of language to more common usage. For example, consider how a modern child might say these phrases from "Colonial Manners" (History.org).
- Sleep not when others Speak, Sit not when others stand, Speak not when you Should hold your Peace, walk not on when others Stop.
- Shift not yourself in the Sight of others nor Gnaw your nails.
- Shake not the head, Feet, or Legs rowl not the Eys lift not one eyebrow higher than the other wry not the mouth, and bedew no mans face with your Spittle, by approaching too near him when you Speak.
Which of the rules still apply and which seem to have gone out of practice? Many of the rules of general conduct focus on one's appearance. Do people of our time focus as much on, for example, whether or not our lips are closed and if we're holding our arms and legs still?
George Washington's "Rules of Civility" Social Skills
Here are a few "Colonial Manners" social skills to consider:
- Shew not yourself glad at the Misfortune of another though he were your enemy.
- When you meet with one of Greater Quality than yourself, Stop, and retire especially if it be at a Door or any Straight place to give way for him to Pass.
- Tis ill manners to bid one more eminent than yourself be covered as well as not to do it to whom it's due Likewise he that makes too much haste to Put on his hat does not well, yet he ought to Put it on at the first, or at most the Second time of being ask'd; now what is herein Spoken, of Qualification in behaviour in Saluting, ought also to be observed in taking of Place, and Sitting down for ceremonies without Bounds is troublesome.
Many of the rules of social skills seem to refer to relationships of inferior and superior rank. How do ideas about social interactions, social hierarchy, and general courtesy from that time compare to modern ideas about good manners? Do people of our time show notice of rank in this way?
George Washington's "Rules of Civility" Table Manners
Here are a few meal-time "Colonial Manners" from George Washington's time.
- Being Set at meat Scratch not neither Spit Cough or blow your Nose except there's a Necessity for it.
- Make no Shew of taking great Delight in your Victuals, Feed not with Greediness; cut your Bread with a Knife, lean not on the Table neither find fault with what you Eat.
- Cleanse not your teeth with the Table Cloth Napkin Fork or Knife but if Others do it let it be done wt. a Pick Tooth.
How do these ideas about table manners compare to modern good mealtime manners?
Have fun comparing historic ideas about decent behavior to current and universal standards, all the while practicing reading, comprehension, and handwriting, and learning a little history from the first president of the United States.
Sources:
"Colonial Manners." Colonial Williamsburg. History.org, retrieved on March 2011.
Sands, Stella. "Washington." Kids Discover Magazine, February 2011.
Young, Donna. "George Washington's Rules of Decent Behavior." DonnaYoung.org, retrieved on February 2011.
Sara McGrath - Sara is a veteran homeschool mom of three, Usborne consultant, and the author of Unschooling: A Lifestyle of Learning.
Join the Conversation