It's 'wife camp' for 10-year-olds

It's 'wife camp' for 10-year-olds

ca.lifestyl e.yahoo.com

Two years ago, concert pianist Wonny Song attended a reception in Paris. The host's 13-year-old daughter greeted guests at the door and made proper introductions. "She could speak to ambassadors, artists, business people-everyone. It really made an impression," recalls Song, vice-director of the Lambda School of Music and Fine Arts in Montreal.

Inspired by this encounter, Song is starting a new summer program for girls. The goal of Make-over Camp is to instill poise, grace and confidence in girls between the ages of 10 and14.

[edit on 22-9-2009 by AccessDenied]

[edit on 22-9-2009 by AccessDenied]

Mod Edit: BB Code.

[edit on 23/9/2009 by Mirthful Me]

I can see how in these times where young girls are really showing a lack of the above skills, that some parents would want this..to a degree.
However I see the flip side of this coin, and it does seem quite sexist. Where is the school for boys who learn to be productive breadwinners and upstanding members of society?
Very old school thinking.

ca.lifestyl e.yahoo.com
(visit the link for the full news article)

That's just wrong. God knows what she's teaching those kids behind closed doors.

Originally posted by AccessDenied

I can see how in these times where young girls are really showing a lack of the above skills, that some parents would want this..to a degree.
However I see the flip side of this coin, and it does seem quite sexist. Where is the school for boys who learn to be productive breadwinners and upstanding members of society?
Very old school thinking.

ca.lifestyl e.yahoo.com
(visit the link for the full news article)

Honestly, I don't see any sizable issue with a program such as this. There are plenty of programs for boys and young men, such as Boy Scouts and military schools which are intended to prepare them to be the best "men" they can be. That being said, there are even some sister-organizations (no pun intended) that include girls in similar activities such as Venture Scouting.

Granted, something like etiquette school may serve to reinforce the traditional gender-based roles in society, but for those that need programs such as these, they are most definitely beneficial.


[edit on 22-9-2009 by Daemos]

It saddens me that the school system has degraded to such a degree that this is even necessary. It's not sexist, it had to start somewhere and in reality this is going to give those girls an advantage over their male peers in life.

Its not anything close to preening them to be perfect little wives, its teaching them to be polite and productive members of society instead of the tittering little no-brains that flit from shop to shop and couldn't string a productive sentence together if their life depended on it.

About darn time that the old school of manners and decorum took over from the new school of borderline-hooker clothes and sub-par language skills. Now we just need a similar program to create gentlemen as opposed to wanna-be gangsters and for this to be implemented in every school, and the upcoming generations might not be such utterly useless trash.

And this is coming from a 19 year old.

Sounds like Charm School to me.

My mother said she went to charm school. She also said the only thing practical she ever learned there was to say "Fantastic!" or "How Interesting!" instead of saying "Bull Sh*t!" or "STFU!". She was a debutante that became a leggy Las Vegas Showgirl...and I'm sure there are dilettantes who sit and stare at them every chance they get.

Still, at least someone is taking the reigns here. And I don't see the problem with it, as children certainly aren't getting any positive attributing qualities from our so-called illustrious ( ) American school system anymore. The only predominate factor our schools illustrate anymore is a severe lack of caring, compassion and guidance.

This particular charm school seems like it would at least have the illusion of virtue, and maybe that's all a person needs (certainly works for Liberty).

It's all about illusion people. This lady just wants to perpetuate a more pleasant one, that's all.

At least she's getting off her arse and doing something. For that, I give her credit, no matter how much impact it has on society's illusion as a whole.

Originally posted by D.E.M.
It saddens me that the school system has degraded to such a degree that this is even necessary. It's not sexist, it had to start somewhere and in reality this is going to give those girls an advantage over their male peers in life.

Its not anything close to preening them to be perfect little wives, its teaching them to be polite and productive members of society instead of the tittering little no-brains that flit from shop to shop and couldn't string a productive sentence together if their life depended on it.

About darn time that the old school of manners and decorum took over from the new school of borderline-hooker clothes and sub-par language skills. Now we just need a similar program to create gentlemen as opposed to wanna-be gangsters and for this to be implemented in every school, and the upcoming generations might not be such utterly useless trash.

And this is coming from a 19 year old.

Well said young DEM, but you have left me wondering just what a 'productive sentence' might be. Perhaps you meant coherent?

It's great to see a youngster wanting to raise the bar. I'm thinking you might be a bit disappointed in many of the possible mates you're finding. So has it ever been.

And this is coming from a 45 year old.

----------------------------------------------------------------------
As mentioned earlier, this is nothing new, and of course it exists for both sexes of families that can afford it. Charm school, finishing school, whatever. Parents with less money simply do it themselves. I remember the mother of my first girlfriend being impressed that I chewed my food with my mouth closed. Of course I was 7 or 8 at the time. And I use the term girlfriend very liberally.

About darn time that the old school of manners and decorum took over from the new school of borderline-hooker clothes and sub-par language skills. Now we just need a similar program to create gentlemen as opposed to wanna-be gangsters and for this to be implemented in every school, and the upcoming generations might not be such utterly useless trash.

And this is coming from a 19 year old.

Very well said, especially so that you're only 19. I'm glad I'm not the only one of our generation that has noticed these changes.

One thing does puzzle me however, surely the type of parents that would send their kids to this kind of place would be teaching this behaviour to their kids in the first place. Unfortunately, the majority of people bringing up the next generation of losers would have no interest in their child going to such an institution.

Coming from a 21 year old

I think it is a good idea to teach manners to children.I grew up calling
adults,mame or sir.Now a days,you're doing good if children even
recognize your excistance.They either have a phone glued to their
ears,earphones to listen to music or a handheld video game keeping
them occupied.

I am a 54 year old grandma.

Is nothing wrong with learning, etiquette, good manners and how to be charming.

Darn back in my days we learned about all that as teens in our local 4 H clubs, you know back in the seventies it was one in every town they where the place to spend time after school hours rather than becoming zombies to computer games, chatting in the net about nonsense, and posting silly pictures that more often than not end in porno sites.

Hell I learn how to shift flour and sugar before baking a cake from scratch.

[edit on 23-9-2009 by marg6043]

reply to post by marg6043


It all comes down to the parents. My son says "please" and "thank you" and is generally respectful to adults, however, I am aware that this behaviour all takes place while I am within earshot. To a certain extent he won't be as bad as some but I don't want a little Mr "Stepford-Son" either.

I want him to revel in his youth, to challenge us adults with his innocence and pseudo-worldliness. Or, at least to think he is.

After all, I was a teenager once, and did the same.

Every generation of adults complains how bad the current generation of teenagers are. And they are always right!

But, our punishment is that they will eventually grow up, and they will become us.

Great idea making the youth actually polite and intelligent... but boys could use it too... It is not just the lady folk that host parties and have to be polite to guests. The 'special etiquette training' that I get as a military officer is useful to anyone who wants function as a successful member of a civilized society.

And this coming from a 22 year old male.

So it's a Finishing School...

What's the big eff'n deal?

I think this is great and I would support a similar program for boys. I never understood why social skills are never taught in schools anymore, I would think they'd at least teach you how to be a good interview subject for colleges.

When someone is well spoken and able to carry on an interesting conversation we tend to think of them as smarter, more capable and more attractive than someone who might be smarter but is less socially adept.

While we're at it I think schools should teach more life skills as well. just simple things like writing a resume, opening a bank account, things like that. I know I was pretty smart but I was lacking knowledge that everyone seemed to think I'd just absorb.

If our schools aren't going to teach our kids the basics and are going to teach lies and propaganda then they might as well teach children social skills, it's not sexist or racist, kids these days need it.

They should open a similar camp for boys.

I can't believe that young people have no concept of manners anymore.

I see students at the University level who don't know how to behave when they are in social situations.

I think that it's something that has been lost on the current generation.

I went to "Charm School" sponsored by Sears some 40 years ago.

It was one my life's memorable moments.

I learned confidence and manners.

How to sit properly, walk properly, speak clearly, etc.

Call it sexist if you like, but it gave me the confidence to walk and hold my head high so I didn't walk and talk like a scuffy tom boy and instilled social confidence to make friends.

It has carried over into my adult life and I believe has contributed to my adult successes.

As some have said already, what kind of rocket science does it take for a kid to learn proper manners and speech? Why aren't normal, average parents capable of giving that to their children? It's not math or kendo, or deep knowledge of Quran. What next, a camp for kids to learn to brush their teeth and use the toilet?

Originally posted by Julie Washington
I went to "Charm School" sponsored by Sears some 40 years ago.

It was one my life's memorable moments.

I learned confidence and manners.

How to sit properly, walk properly, speak clearly, etc.

Call it sexist if you like, but it gave me the confidence to walk and hold my head high so I didn't walk and talk like a scuffy tom boy and instilled social confidence to make friends.

It has carried over into my adult life and I believe has contributed to my adult successes.

I am a bit confused.....are you talking in general or are you scoffing at girls/women who might not be that (overtly) feminine ?

Originally posted by buddhasystem
As some have said already, what kind of rocket science does it take for a kid to learn proper manners and speech? Why aren't normal, average parents capable of giving that to their children? It's not math or kendo, or deep knowledge of Quran. What next, a camp for kids to learn to brush their teeth and use the toilet?

Do you have kids? Some kids listen to others better than their own parents, and i think its fine to have something like that. They really need one for boys as well, most boys I know have not an ounce of respect or manners for anybody.

I think there is nothing wrong with the idea of a charm school. I am teaching my daughters manners, etc., so they will hopefully grow up to be confident young women, if they had something around here like that I wouldn't hesitate in them learning a little more from something like that.

Originally posted by Mercuryae

Originally posted by Julie Washington
I went to "Charm School" sponsored by Sears some 40 years ago.

It was one my life's memorable moments.

I learned confidence and manners.

How to sit properly, walk properly, speak clearly, etc.

Call it sexist if you like, but it gave me the confidence to walk and hold my head high so I didn't walk and talk like a scuffy tom boy and instilled social confidence to make friends.

It has carried over into my adult life and I believe has contributed to my adult successes.

I am a bit confused.....are you talking in general or are you scoffing at girls/women who might not be that (overtly) feminine ?

I don't think this poster was scoffing at girls or women that aren't feminine.
There are lots of girls that wear the really baggy jeans(that was just an example), etc. that just don't have manners or respect, and I think that as much as I hate to say it, appearances, the way you interact with people and how you carry yourself really does matter in society today. I don't think there is anything wrong with teaching our young girls that manners really is a good quality to have.