Commenter, a speaker, said Mount Tabor Elementary held its 18th annual tea party to teach students manners and etiquette: "Today we had our eighteenth annual tea party. We have been talking about it all school year. We practice on manners."

The speaker described the event’s format and dress code: "The boys wear ties and button up shirts, and the girls wear dresses, and they have such a wonderful time. The boys are always very nervous escorting the girls."

According to the speaker, repeated practice during the school year helps students gain confidence: "But after a couple of times of practicing, they feel better and they're ready to go. And afterwards, they feel terrific and they're proud of themselves." The speaker added that the tea party gives students a nonacademic setting to learn social skills, including opening doors for parents: "Manners and etiquette is a very important skill in our lives. The children learn here at Mount Tabor during our tea party that they can open the doors for their parents, for their moms, at a restaurant, at a mall."

The speaker emphasized that the activity makes children feel good and introduces them to new experiences: "They can open the door and help someone else and make their lives easier and it makes them feel good when they do so. I love having this tea party because it makes the children come alive and they are able to enjoy themselves in a non academic way and have fun and learn to like a little something different, which is hot tea."