Quote of the Day:
"I was thinking maybe if I have the boys dress for success," Nelson said to WCSC. "When was the last time you saw someone fighting in a tuxedo?"
–Raymond Nelson, student support specialist at Memminger Elementary in Downtown Charleston, South Carolina
Nelson, who works with at-risk children, came up with a brilliant idea during a break: Why not help young boys to become young gentlemen?
Thus was born the "Gentleman's Club," which meets every Wednesday and attracts dozens of young men from the first through fifth grade, who show up in their Sunday Best. The club's motto, is "Look good, feel good, do good."
"I know a lot of them struggle because a lot of them don't have men at home, so I just want them to grow up and think of the things that I teach them," Nelson said. "They like the reaction of walking up to classrooms and say, 'Oh, you look so nice and handsome,' they just love it."
CBSNews adds: :
Nelson even keeps a stash of donated jackets, vests and ties at school for kids who don't have their own.
"A lot of my students perform well when they know someone cares about them," Nelson said.
Each week they discuss a new topic like how to shake hands, make eye contact, open doors and address their elders.
Nelson told WCSC because some of the younger boys are still at the age where they consider girls to have "cooties," he bases his lessons and examples of how they would treat sisters, mothers and their teachers.
Good heavens–this is just such a wonderful idea. Nelson, at the request of his mother, joined a similar organization as a school kid and he credits it with helping him become a better person.
Do click on the link to see Mr. Nelson and his immaculately turned-out young gentlemen wearing ties. The Gentleman's Club was also featured in a story by the local CBS affiliate.
Charleston County School District officials are considering starting Gentleman's programs in other schools.
This may be the nicest story I've read in quite a while.