The Gentlemen’s Club has officially gone viral! This is not your normal gentlemen’s club; this club consists of a group of fourth and fifth graders from Thomas E. Kerns Elementary school in Greenville, S.C. Not only are these young men focused on getting good grades, they are also getting schooled on what to wear, how to wear it, and how to use proper etiquette when dining.
CBS National News traveled all the way to Greenville, SC to feature this group of amazing young men and their Gentlemen’s Club.
The way the program works is the boys all get together every other Friday. These meetings consist of them learning important aspects of everyday life that will affect them, their families, and their communities. These gentlemen learn a wide array of great things that range from keeping their neighborhoods clean and watering plants to etiquette and planning for their future endeavors.
These 48 elementary school students are learning the art of being a gentlemen. The Principal at Thomas E. Kerns, Mark Adams, explained the importance of the program that he started last year, “I think the Gentlemen’s Club impacts these young boys with a sense of belonging. We look at it as preparation for academics. Preparation for behavior, preparation for citizenship, because it’s our responsibility to prepare them for the next level”, said Adams.
Most of the member of the Gentleman’s Club live in low-income neighborhoods of Greenville, SC and qualify for the city’s Free Lunch or reduce priced programs. Twice every year these gentlemen get treated to one of their most favorite activities. They get together to enjoy gourmet, three-course meals for the group. One student said, “I think I’ve started to get in love with it,” and another boy was quoted saying, “This is so god. I think I’ve seen Jesus.”
In interviews with CBS news the boys discussed how the program has given them the confidence to go after their dreams, such has one young man’s goal in becoming a lawyer. Another young man told the news reporter that he, “used to be a bad kid,” but after joining the Gentlemen’s Club, he feels better about himself and has been getting better grades.
At their annual gourmet dinner celebration, Principal Adams congratulated the young gentlemen for their hard work and achievements, “Academic achievement in my opinion is mostly about hard work and commitment and I am proud of your accomplishments,” said Adams.
Your principal is proud of you, and the community is rooting for all of these young, distinguished, gentlemen.
Source: CBS News
Syllabus Magazine, the Carolina’s source for Music, Culture and Fashion
