Many times, it’s beneficial to learn from the past. After all, history can help us to avoid past mistakes and teach us how to better live in the present and future. One phrase that was very common years ago is the expression “finishing school”. In this post, I will delve into the history surrounding finishing school for young ladies and talk about how girls today can benefit from social etiquette skills they learn from a charm school.
Brief History of the Finishing School
In the early days, a finishing school was someplace that young women (usually from society families) would attend in order to prepare them for marriage and life as an adult. According to Wikipedia, Miss Porter’s School was founded in 1843 and is an early example in the United States. However, during their heyday, many of the well-known institutions were located in the United Kingdom and Switzerland. Finishing school (also known as a charm school) helped refine young ladies so they could interact well with others and manage a home with grace.
Of course, life in today’s world looks much different than in the 19th and early 20th centuries. Women are applauded for their business acumen and intellectual capabilities. Young ladies aren’t defined as much by their marital status and are encouraged to grow as individuals. Even so, charm school still offers valuable skills for today’s modern woman. After all, don’t you want your daughter to climb the corporate ladder or have a group of kind and thoughtful friends?
5 Ways a Charm School can Help your Daughter
- Poise when dining at a table – Sharing a meal has always been a great way for business colleagues to connect in an authentic and personal manner. However, professionalism is a must, since rude habits will make an employer look bad and may turn off potential clients. If your daughter works in an international environment and travels frequently, she will need to know how to handle herself with tact and consideration for others.
- Speaking of others, another important skill charm school will instill in your child is how to respect others. This includes appreciating people by sending thank you notes and by cultivating an inner attitude of gratitude. Respect for others also involves growing in the art of listening.
- Self-confidence – Many girls struggle with body image and in feeling confident about what they wear or how they look. Charm school classes help young women develop a positive mindset about themselves and in what they should consider wearing to various social functions.
- Preparation for future college or job interviews – Your daughter can impress those she interacts with and ace that interview! Students will learn how to put their best foot forward and respond to questions in a competent, professional manner.
- How to interact with people on social media – Ah, social media. Teens might not think that their actions online matter, but they do. Charm school will teach students the etiquette skills they need to avoid embarrassing themselves on Facebook, Instagram, Tik-Tok etc.
Social Etiquette at The Dallas School of Etiquette
Lisa offers both private and group lessons for your children. Reach out via our Contact page to request our Social Etiquette services (or ask about charm school for young ladies) today!
