Charm School

VH1's reality series Flavor of Love: Charm School ended in July, but the show's influence remains strong, as exemplified by the Boys and Girls Clubs of Hall County in Gainesville, Georgia.  The youth organizations have adapted the goals of the series into two of their existing programs: the Gentlemen of the School of Charm--aka, Boys 2 Men--and Smart Girls in the World of Charm School.  The programs are aimed to facilitate group work, teach the young men and women proper etiquette and manners, and promote all around self-improvement.

"We have changed the names of the programs, but they really are Smart Girls and Passport to Manhood, which are National Boys and Girls Club programs," unit director Derrick Caldwell said.  "We are always trying to find out different ways to do things.  These programs have been here for years, but we are coming up with our own creative ideas and at the same time try to implement the value and the importance that the programs have to offer."

Every week, the boys study a different aspect of etiquette or self-improvement.  Their regular activities include practicing filling out college applications, completing obstacle courses and learning about finances and business management.

"Right now we are teaching [the boys] money management, so we opened a store here called The Club Store," Shelly White, a Boys and Girls Clubs health and life skills director, said.  "It is a positive program to teach them how to go from a boy to becoming a man.  We are just trying to get them to stay off the streets.  We teach them a lot of respect and how to use the proper language."

Quantabis Hancock, the Boys 2 Men senior president, added, "We just started getting real hands on.  We are making a lot of progress and learning that money matters, how to invest your money, inventory -- we are learning the whole process."

As for the girls, they focus on some of the commandments featured in VH1's Charm School, including “Thou Shalt Mind thy Money,” “Thou Shalt be Fully Fabulous” and “Thou Shalt Show Some Class.”  Additionally, they must attend the hour-long classes dressed in a dark skirt, a white button-down shirt and a tie.

Heading up the Smart Girls in the World of Charm School is Tonya Harris, another Boys and Girls Clubs health and life skills coordinator.  She said that the programs have made a huge impact on the participants.

"We are showing them how to be a lady, that there are certain ways to say things and how to walk away from trouble," Harris said.

Similar to what Charm School host Mo'Nique experienced in the show, the program coordinators initially encountered some problems with the participants.  However, over time, Caldwell said he noticed a vast improvement in all of the children.

"At one time we had a problem with some of the girls wearing short shorts and having to send them home," he said.  "I haven't had to send anyone home this summer.  We haven't had a problem with the guys and girls trying to sneak away, the girls are respecting themselves now and the guys doing the same."

The programs are open to anyone who is interested, but they must be able to fulfill a few conditions.  The girls are expected to render community service, social recreation, education and money management, as well as earn points to participate in activities.  In October, the Charm School will be collecting coats for children in Africa, and during the regular school year, will be taking trips to nursing homes to play bingo with the residents.


-Lisa Claustro, BuddyTV Staff Columnist
Source: Gainesville Times
(Image Courtesy of Gainesville Times)