'Wife' School - Would You Send Your Daughter?

Yes, I would. I think we've forgotten so many things. No wonder we are looked at as a very rude country.

Are you serious? You must be an aged individual. My parents taught me those things without sending me to some god-forsaken camp that gives girls the impression they are supposed to be house slaves. And women in general have ten times more etiquette than a man could ever dream of having. Old-fashioned people need to shut up and sit down. Women are housewives anymore. Women are doctors, lawyers, CPAs, senators, etc. Give the world ten years, and all you male chauvinist pigs will see. Women will be the bread winners, and still be the one that holds the family together in hard times.

Catherine are you joking. It's funny that your comment is completely ignorant. Many polls ahve shown that Americans seem rude, because of there assertiveness and loudness. Americans seem rude merely because they don't take the time to learn other countries customs, mannerisms, cultures, and behaviors. Next time do research. This Wife School idea is absurd. In my opinion the great advancement of women is one thing that is helping our country. Ever wonder why every other country isn't advancing as fast or as well as America, look where there women are placed.....

YOU are one of the luckey ones, If you were taught the ways of civilized life,by your parents.
Many children in the USA do not get all the one on one they need to become Adults in this world .

I wish this was taught in school . From proper hygine, to conversation, to being a caring and sensative human.
the kids are so self absorbed and rude and uninformed.(they talk amonge them selves and are getting incomplete information).

This should be part of a required program that starts in 1st Grade and continues to 12.

I would love to send my daughter to that camp. When we were young we attended charm school. What's the difference? Where is this camp?

Well, I just want to add my two cents. After travelling the world, I do notice American women need to be taught to be lady-like, the mass media promotes rudeness and all sorts of bad stuff. After 100,000 hours of watching USA TV, girls do need the class on etiquette. But I will say I feel I know why a lot of women will not like this program. It's simply that in America the old ladies are very jealous of the young ladies, especially innocence(note: hidden theme of Sex in the City), so promoting cleanliness and etiquette to the young in America infuriates a lot of women here, who never get a second chance to wear the white dress down the isle, and want to make sure NO ONE ever does...kind of like Cinderella's STEPMOM.....

So... all of you that are calling this "wife camp"... are you assuming SINGLE women don't need to know all those things? Don't single women need to converse, have manners, know how to throw a decent dinner party, etc...??? It's not sexist. If your parents aren't civilized enough to teach you these things they should at least have the good sense to let someone else teach them. They're certainly not being taught at school.

while I think this is completely outdated...these types of schools were around for a very long time..called finishing schools. they were popular mostly in the 1800 to about 1950, but this isnt the only school that still runs today, I watched an episode of wife swap not too long ago and one of the mothers was a..what did she call her teachings..something like southern belles..so while it is uncommon it is still out there..would I send my daugther to one? hell no. Im already a souther woman with manors, and a housewife at that. I can teach her what she needs to know. what she gets from it is up to her, I would never force a life style on her. while I love my life as a housewife and mother.as I was groomed to be...I would never expect my daughter to do the same. if she wants a carrer and live on her own before marriage, I have all the confidence in the world that she will do whats best for her, and her life, and still be a great wife and mother..with a great job. in other words, I say it differntly, but I do agree with you 100 percent

It used to be called "charm school" and most of us (back in the day) attended. While most of us came from families that teached, and stressed the importance of, basic etiquette, this went a step further. What it did was allow me to feel comfortable in almost any situation. It was not degrading, it was not demeaning, it merely helped us young women traverse the social landscape without trepidation, and with total confidence.

Hey, I think it is a slam dunk idea. My working parents never learned the details of this sort of thing. You sat down to eat you had a plate, a fork, a knife and a spoon. One glass for the iced tea. Flowers on the table meant some child drug em in and mama had to put the flowers on the table. So we got the job done, no one went away hungry except by choice. Now I'd love to understand why there are so many forks and how to use em. No damoki, I did not learn the things discussed here at mamas knee.

Natasha - Do you have "manors" or "manners"?

I totally agree! Where are the parents, why aren't they teaching these things to their own children? The Parents need to go to Boot Camp.

I fully agree with this comment. These are not over-the-top ideas, but rather very basic and mundane things EVERYONE (boys and girls) should know and understand. This are basic life skills, how to be a productive citizen.

If a child is not well-behaved, parents should take the initiate and be a good example to their children, and include punishments for if they do not do something and small rewards (even praise) when they do. Basic parenting, people.

There is no reason that there should be a camp for this kind of idea. Parents are so lazy these days, hoping to just plop their kid in front of the TV or send them to camp instead of TEACHING their kids the skills they need in life and then wondering what happened when their kids go down the wrong path.

These "Learn Your Manners" schools, despite what they camp owners may say, are very sexist. The fact that there are no boys at the camp (which genuinely may be the case, but still) sends the message to young girls, "This is what YOU have to do, this is how YOU have to behave, but boys can be all wild and crazy."

Because they're so focused on manners, they do not let kids be kids. If parents taught this at home, though, they could help show that you don't have to be Miss or Mister Manners all of the time. Parents could show their kids that being polite doesn't mean you have to be this fake person, but rather you can still be who you are and be really polite. You could still be the hardcore rocker, or the hippie or the track star and still have good manners. And that is ultimately what's to be learned

I find those who are protesting this school are the most old-fashioned.. I own my own business, own my own home, and am no
one's wife.. and I am female

What is wrong learning social graces? I am grateful that my parents taught me how to perform in society.. manners are nothing more than thinking of others before yourself.. When I entertain clients in my home, my dinners are more than eating at a trough.

As a woman who came of age during the women's liberation era, I find it amusing that possessing social skills are only associated
with the 1950's culture

Those of you who feel that these skills denote passive mindless
individuals should leave the 1950's and attempt to join the 21st century

If you are willing to learn and are not too ignorant

It sounds like you're ready for a divorce, but feel you're not independant enough. Life's too short to be unhappy and apprehensive. I'll teach you all the things you spoke of.

I think the camp is a great idea. We have reached a point in this culture where the finer things have been forgotten. Someone has to be responsible and bring it back because my contemporaries have forgotten the other important things in life.

Love your list of specifics! As Girl Scout trainer have tried to update leaders as to what girls actually want & need. Thank you for generous help :8-)) Yes, quality basic manners open some doors and prevent others from slamming against you personally. Recently saw lawyer fired for poor public table manners. Nothing fancy - chewing with mouth closed, taking reasonable size bites, how to hold/use a fork and knife neatly, wiping lips before sipping from a glass, etc. Basic manners are just simple considerations of others. Congratulations on your own insights and thanks for sharing really useful specifics. This camp option could be a parental supplement, someone else saying & showing that reinforces ...

When my older son started High School in 1988 they had a course that taught many of these things as part of the Home Ec course that both the boys and girls had to take as Freshmen. It was called Living Skills and they got a large manila envelope the first day which was their "family." They had a checkbook that they had to keep balanced, they had to make a budget based on their job (given to them in that packet), They each had a family of different sizes and make-up (some had an in-law living with them) they had to go grocery shopping (just on paper) to see what it cost. They had to get a place to live by checking the classified ads. Pay insurance, etc. All the things to start out life. It WAS a great program. The next year the DRUGS, ALCOHOL, & CONCOM course was mandated and they had to put that in instead.