Boys at one school learn how to iron. Photo: Toby Zerna
Grooming and etiquette classes for boys
At least one school in Sydney has decided its Year Nine boys need a touch of civility drilled into them so St Augustine’s College has introduced classes which teach the teenagers how to iron, sew, make the bed, shake hands properly and who should pay for dinner on a first date.
Middle School dean Peter Nolan created the Unitas program of 10 subjects to give students something exciting and different.
“We often find that boys lose their way at school – the novelty of Year 7 has worn off and the focus of the senior years isn’t quite in their reach yet,” he said. “Education is about opening doors. It’s not just about getting a great result at the end of Year 12. It’s about developing character and building individuals.”
Now there’s a marijuana vending machine
But it’s in just so no-one gets charged with dealing, so it’s totally OK. A New Zealand club has installed a pot vending machine (just converted a regular kind) after its founder Dakta Green was jailed in June 2011 for possessing, selling and allowing the warehouse to be used for drug taking.
Cannabis clubs are set up as places where marijuana is sold to people for medicinal purposes.
Police said they were ‘monitoring’ the club.
Models wearing fake bumps to model maternity clothes
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Actually pregnant women aren’t good enough to model maternity clothes if you take an industry snub as evidence. ‘Regular’ models are hired in states like Victoria and fitted with a baby bump under their clothes and sent to work.
Maternity wear retailer Kelly Tredwell, from oneontheway.com.au, said she was concerned to learn some maternity models were not pregnant.
“If you shove a bump or cushion up your top then you are not really showing how women really look,” she said.
Melbourne-based Soon Maternity features Chloe Cameron, a slim, 26-year-old non-pregnant woman, as the face of its autumn/winter range.
Cameron, who has never had children, is wearing a prosthetic belly, but this is not disclosed on the company’s website.
A spokeswoman for Soon Maternity said the company preferred to use pregnant models, but they were not always around on the time and day it needed them.
Elite French police in raid on suspected Al-Qaeda serial killer
Some of France’s best police launched a pre-dawn raid in Toulouse on the home of the man suspected of shooting dead three Jewish school children, a Rabbi and three off-duty soldiers in separate attacks.
Two officers were wounded as the police specials weapons squad cornered the 24-year-old French national in a house in the southern French city. His name is Mohammed Merah. His mother was brought in to help negotiate but said she ‘had no influence over him’.
French police during the raid
Hours later and it appears the stand-off continues with French police refusing to confirm the suspect has been arrested and France’s interior Minister Claude Gueant also denying the rumours.
Gueant said Merah was an Islamic extremist.
“This person has made trips to Afghanistan and Pakistan in the past … and says he belongs to al-Qaeda and says he wanted to avenge Palestinian children and to attack the French Army,” Gueant said.
“He has links with people involved in jihadism and salafism.”
Federal MP Steve Georganas wants to introduce laws that would prevent door-to-door salesman approaching homes directly for business. But, of course, politicians, religious people and charities would be exempt.
Mr Georganas said the Do Not Knock Register would cost little to set up and would be modelled on the Do Not Call Register.
“My mother, for example, says ‘my telephone bill is so expensive now’, and I say ‘when did you change company?’,” he said.
“She says ‘there was a lovely young lady who came and told me I should’.”
The ad
Shoe ad under fire for being in favour of cheating
Shoe brand Reebok, owned by Adidas, said it would not defend advertisements that appeared telling men to ‘cheat on your girlfriend, not on your workout’. Adidas said it did not condone the message, or cheating of any sort, and the ads had only appeared in Germany. Perhaps the greatest surprise here is that Reebok are advertising at all.
Comments
94 Comments so far
My Dad, who grew up in the 50′s and 60′s always did the dishes with his Dad as a kid. Growing up myself he always did the ironing in front of the TV and I always prefered the nights he cooked because he added a bit more “spice” to a meal than Mum did.
Now I have 2 boys of my own. My eldest, who is 11, has always enjoyed watching me cook and I have told him that next year, when he starts high school, he can cook one meal a week. I would love to send him out into the world ready to look after himself. I refuse to be a Mum of boys who does everything for them. I saw it happen too often with male friends when I was younger “Mum can you make me a coffee?!” “Mum where are my socks?!” Plus, my husband has only learnt to cook and not be so afraid of the kitchen since we got together.
Schools can teach them but parents can also teach them how to do the domestic stuff
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Yeah! Why don’t we just grow babies in test tubes and abrogate complete responsibility… Suppose it highlights the old saying “you need a license to get a dog…”. Or it could be a form of Darwinism – where parents are “selecting” their children downwards on the social scale by not teaching them a damn thing.
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now we just need girls schools to teach women to change car tyres rather than waiting by the side of the road until a bloke pulls over.
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I grew up on a farm doing mens work (outdoor) and womens work (indoor) when my brothers only did mens work! Ironing for a family of six was one of my indoor weekly chores and involved many unneccessary items such as sheets tea towel etc – surprisingly I left home at 17yrs. When I married at 31yrs I had ironed very little since leaving home and I gave my husband one single ironing lesson – thats all ladies don’t underestimate the capacity for a grown man to master something if you show him how – frankly its not rocket science – now I only help him if there is a time crisis – often in our marriage I have worked the longest hours. My 2yo son inherited a cubby including a toy iron and ironing board and we discuss that it is just like ‘daddys iron’ as my son has rarely if ever seen me iron! He also lifts his shirt and looks for a nipple to breast feed the dolls that came with the cubby – I’m so glad his toys are not gender biased!!!
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My dad was the “Iron Man of the Year” at the Wahroonga fair in 2002. I’m so proud! Haha. He won because he took his time to iron it properly and because he did the top button up on the hanger for the men’s shirts. He always did the ironing. He finds it “therapeutic”. We won a laundry voucher which was pretty handy.
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LOVE the addition of grooming and etiquette classes in schools! My cousin goes to St Augustine’s and I am delighted he will be doing this in Year 9 (he’s currently in Yr 7). He has zero domestic skills and hopefully this will help! Education is so much more than academics!
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I am determined to teach both my boys the basic skills as I had none when I moved out of home. My 13 year old cooks once a week, vacuums and has numerous other domestic tasks. He also just asked to learn to ise the washing machine !The 4 year old is just starting to set the table and putting his washing away. I remember being really angry in Year 9 that the boys got to go to a Sydney Kings basketball camp while the girls had to attend an etiquette workshop, however I still use some of what Inlearnt back then today.
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Teaching boys how to iron? What a great idea! I often feel (know!) that I do too much for my son (aged 14) – he can barely hang a towel up properly. I worry about what he will do when he leaves home, he’ll be clueless. I left home when I was 19, but these days, mainly for financial reasons I suppose, kids stay at home longer and so don’t learn independence until much later. While it’s certainly not the school’s role, any life skills that they can learn along the way would be handy, for girls as well as boys.
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Just out of curiosity, if you feel like your son will be clueless when he leaves home, why not teach him some of the basic stuff now?
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It may be the parent’s responsibility to teach these things, but that doesn’t mean it’s being done.
I am a Guide leader and there is probably about 2 out of 30 girls who do any chores at home. I once had a girl genuinely tell me she didnt know how to wash a cup! I was disgusted! The rest of them always use cold water. They cant sweep properly or fold tea towels or set tables. It’s really worrying.
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Also – most of them have never handled a sharp knife or lit a match. They are about 10 -12 years old. I dont expect them to be experts or anything, but you would think at least once in their life they would have had an opportunity.
Many of them have never cooked – and they love doing it once they’ve tried. I don’t know if they live of takeaway or ready-meals, but you’d think it would occur to their parents to do things with their kids once in a while.
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My husband (the middle of 3 sons) was ‘fully house trained’ when I met him. His mum is a very outspoken femininst who declared that having 3 sons meant she had every opportunity to put male domesticity into practice.
When I met my husband all 3 boys were still living at home and the only thing his mum did was cook (because she enjoyed cooking). Between the 3 boys all other domestic chores were taken care of. Laundry, ironing, cleaning, dishes, the lot. My husband still prefers to do his own washing and ironing and washes my sheets and towels for me every week.
Full credit to my mother-in-law there!
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That’s fantastic!
My partner did not come house trained, but he makes every effort. I actually feel that as he has 2 older sisters (as well as brothers), he’s pretty in tune with equal rights and respect for women. In fact, he does more house-cleaning than me (I do more cooking and work longer hours).
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“If you shove a bump or cushion up your top then you are not really showing how women really look,” she said.
Just in response to this, it feels like another version of the ‘real women have curves’ statement. An unhelpful generalisation, designed to empower one group whilst consequently dismissing the ‘normality’ of the opposite.
I’m at the end of my third pregnancy and each time (despite some days only eating ice-cream or cookies) I am ‘all baby’ and look like I simply have pillows stuck up my shirt. It’s a ‘normal’ look too.
Like everything, isn’t diversity the key? If the only image we saw were ‘all baby’ types, then sure, the message sent wouldn’t be a positive one. However the spokeswoman above did say they prefer pregnant models, but they aren’t always available at the right time, this suggests to me that they do use a variety.
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re, the boys school.
The Kings School in Sydney has been doing this for a few years now. In addition to the skills listed, they also learn how to pick an appropriate mobile phone plan. How to budget etc etc.
They have a whole learning module devoted to teaching boys how to be good men and function in society with useful life skills.
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It all sounds great. And leads me to ask if girls are learning these life skills too?
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I agree. The whole idea is terrific and I definitely think girls should be learning all that as well.
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If it’s Kings, wouldn’t they also be doing it at Tara?
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Meriden. Where I went. We had Kings as our “brother” school. I also went to Tara and Kings just didn’t figure.
At that time.
Maybe things have changed now?
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‘…some maternity models were not pregnant.
“If you shove a bump or cushion up your top then you are not really showing how women really look,” she said.’
Sooo, just like photoshopping and using male models dressed as females…
What a world we live in.
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Look, there are heaps of petite woman who, when pregnant, really do look like that. Like there is a basketball up their t-shirt. They look just as gorgeous as all the other pregnant women out there who (like me) grew boobs almost as big as my belly and lost all shape around my back while pregnant.
What I do find interesting though… is that I went to high school with the woman behind Soon Maternity and she and all her friends at high school were always totally obsessed with skinniness. And I mean obsessed. To the point where they would only drink some days and not eat. And on days when they would eat, it would be the tinniest tin of baked beans (like the ones that a baby can demolish in 5 seconds), while triple-checking the calorie content.
Just interesting for me to remember back to those days and her obsession and wonder if it is that that is making an impact on her business today….?
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I always wondered about those pregnant models and their neat little bumps. I looked like a marshmallow on legs when I was pregnant. Mystery solved.
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These models are just there to make us think Why dont i look like that ,maybe if i buy some more crap i will be a bit closer to so called perfection. Can only say that now im 43 and looking back can see the impact advertising has had on my choices.
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Following on from the pretend pregnant models, the other day I watched a show on Foxtel about baby models (oh, I dont know why I was watching, must have lost the remote haha!).
The gorgeous baby selected for the front of a parenting magazine was paired with a gorgeous young model. Then when the pictures were being taken the person running the show was disappointed they showed a ‘lack of connection’. Well, they met 5 minutes ago, what connection do you want them to have?! haha!
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Re: pregnancy models. Does it matter? Do we have to be furious over everything?!
*dies in state of fury-induced fatigue*
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My thoughts too…who cares about fake bumps..although I did always wonder how they kept such skinny pregnancy arms….mine looked like Christmas Hams when pregnant,
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Who’s being furious? It’s interesting. This is a news round-up, not an outrage fest.
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My question isn’t do we care, my question is: Are we surprised?
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I love the idea of teaching ‘healthy relationships’, i have often thought that both sexes would be happier in adulthood, if they could learn that people cannot ‘own’ each other. Too much is made of whether it is the role of parents, or the role of schools to teach some things, just so long as the child is learning I can’t see that it matters. It is not just boys who need these skills, either.
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um this might be a dumn question but if the Reebok ads are only in Germany why are they written in english?
And how can they say they don’t condone cheating if the sign specifically says.. cheat on your girlfriend.
Clearly my coffee hasn’t kicked in yet.
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I hope the etiquette classes will be spilled over to girls as well. These are things that should be taught at home but some families don’t feel they’re important and so both boys and girls have no idea with certain things.
I think the tafe classes are a great idea as well. Having been to an all girls, private catholic school, going to uni was the only option. But obviously it’s not right for everyone so i think a taste of what else is on offer is a really good idea.
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Also loving the idea of etiquette classes for everyone. I’m only 35, mentally 25, but I think many of today’s youth just don’t get it.
Sure we as parents do our best to teac these values, but I think etiquette often drowns in amongst the “pick up your clothes”, “take out the rubbish”, “don’t stick your fingers in your soup”-type everyday corrections. Having an ironing lesson amongst your peers might just bring that little something else to the table to help it stick and be more fun.
Great idea!
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I’m only 26 and I also agree etiquette for all! Especially email etiquette. It’s a necessity in this world.
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At age 14 my mum sent me to a deportment, grooming and etiquette class. It was a two week course, run during school holidays and the things I learnt in those two weeks I still use today. I wouldn’t hesitate to send my daughter and son to smiliar courses when they’re at that age.
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two events in the last couple of weeks have really haunted me. The bus crash in Belgium killing 24 school children on their way home from a skiing holiday and now this hate shooting in France. I just feel so so sad for the families involved I cannot begin to imagine their grief.
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That bus crash has haunted me as well since it happened. So awful it is beyond comprehension.
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Yes it’s the role of parents to instill all those skills in their children but, as a teacher I also think it’s a good way to engage students that at that age can become slightly lost in the “school system”
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I have 2 sons and 1 daughter. I taught them all from an early age how to:- cook; use the washing machine and how to sort washing; how to iron (the boys are better at it than their sister); how to fold clothes and more. I understand that this may not be something that all children are taught at home (my grandmother taught me as my mother worked) so for schools to teach this to boys and girls is a good thing.
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When my Mum was a kindergarten teacher, at least once a year she would have a lesson where they learnt how to set the table and sit at it to eat. There was always a significant number of kids (aged 5-6) who had never sat at a table to eat a meal, so had no idea which side a knife an fork went on, or even stuff like leaving your plate on the table not putting it on your lap!
I think classes like this are a fantastic idea!
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What a great teacher your mum was….education is not only about the three Rs. Good manners and social skills open many doors.
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Me just-three year old sets the table every day. The knives and forks are usually on a weird angle, but it’s a good start! She also does her own laundry, sweeps the floor and washes the dishes (all well supervised, of course.)
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Segueing from the ironing thing. I’ve had to teach 2 girlfriends to cook. What’s with this?
Both these girlfriends used to proudly proclaimed that they can’t cook as though it was some post-feminist badge of honour. WTF? This isn’t a point of pride; it makes you look as though you’ve been waited on hand and foot your whole life!
I’m not going to cook all the time, this is an important life skill that you need to pick up. We’re also not going to get take away every time it’s your turn – too much salt and fat.
You’re just going to have un-liberate a little, here’s how you boil water.
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It’s the blessing of my generation. If women could cook, I would have gotten laid in the 90′s and early 2000′s a lot less.
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Yeah, now that you mention it, maybe I should have been a bit more ‘glass half full’ on that one.
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Uhm, nothing like a man who cooks a nice meal for the first date.
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Ha… I remember the perfectly poached salmon cooked for me by a lovely boy that was responsible for my deciding to ‘seal the deal’ with him that night. In fact, I have fonder memories of that salmon that the act of deal-sealing….
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I never understood people who say they can’t cook.
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Me too! Surely saying “i can’t cook” doesn’t really mean “I cannot chop vegetables and put them in a frying pan and pour rice into boiling water”.
I always take it to mean “I can’t cook elaborate things you see on Masterchef” – which is totally fine. I am a lover of unfussy food and hate wanky recipes (ie anything involving “foam”).
Is it just me, but isnt cooking simple food mostly intuitive?
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My problem is timing! Say you’ve got your main in the oven, and ovens differ in terms of how quickly they cook things. But you’re also having a side of steamed vegies, or partially steamed vegies which you then sautée…how do you know when to put the vegies in to steam so that they’re not undercooked/overcooked when the main is ready?
Getting all the pieces of the puzzle together and ready at the same time is where I get undone.
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Shannon – snap, snap, snap.
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Timing is important, but if your just cooking for family or close friends, who cares if something is a bit under/overdone?!
I think of myself as quite a good cook, but I often under cook some veg.
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When I say I can’t cook, it’s not because I’m proud of it; it’s because I’m warning people in advance!
Though I did make one darn tasty pineapple pie in grade 9 Home Ec. once upon a time.
And I make mean chocolate fondants. Main meals? Not so much. I eat it anyway, but I wouldn’t usually subject others to it.
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I always say that I can’t cook, but it’s intended as a warning to others not to have high expectations. My friends always produce meals which are really tasty and fancy, but mine are always slightly wrong – too dry, or under cooked, no flavour. I can cook well for myself because I’m often not that fussed about taste, but I’m usually too embarrassed for other people to eat my food. I cook basic and really healthy meals, but they’re always lacking in that oomph factor – I always forget something, or can’t coordinate the timing so something’s cold. So when I say I can’t cook, I mean I can’t cook to a standard where I feel comfortable serving it to guests.
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Yes! That is exactly like me! Glad I’m not alone
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I don’t wear my “Undomestic Goddess” badge as something I’m proud of, I wear it as something for us all to join together and laugh at. Haha, isn’t it hilarious! T had to get her husband to teach her to make rice!
Life is more fun when we can laugh at ourselves.
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As long as you’re trying. The trick is not to regard it as a chore.
Cooking can be quite meditative and is a cool creative outlet.
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I am indeed trying! I have just recently gotten to the point of making up my own recipes. Pretty proud of the salad I invented the other day.
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I’ve taught several friends to cook. They grew up in houses where you just microwave stuff. It is such an important skill, people need to get over the whole “home economics” being anti-feminist.
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Oh, the “I can’t cook” thing truly makes me disappointed in people. Why do they act like it’s something to be proud of? As humans, we eat at least three times a day. Three! It’s something you *HAVE* to know! How else are you going to survive ….
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Like you, I don’t understand those people who are proud that they can’t cook. I moved out of home unable to cook much (scrambled eggs and pancakes were about it) but taught myself.
Then I started a recipe blog specifically to try and teach people how to cook normal, basic, everyday food. Not everything has to look like it belongs on MasterChef! You don’t have to know how to make a roulade or shave a truffle, but you should know how to make a simple pasta dish, mashed potato and a couple of one-pot meals.
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It’s much worse when people say they can cook, and then you eat their food and want to throw up then and there!
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I like the sound of these social skills classes for boys (although I know a few girls that would benefit from them). More so in my case because my daughter went to primary school with some of these Year 9 boys at St A’s and I’ve been informed that one of them is showing a keen interest in her. I hope he’s getting full marks in these classes !
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Year Nine kids need to be taught how to make a bed?????
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Theres ‘making a bed’ and theres ‘making a bed properly’. I’m personally pretty lucky, my man can make our queen bed with hospital corners in just over a minute
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Grooming and etiquette classes for boys? Fantastic! Having dated & worked with Gen X’s & Gen Y’s I can tell you that there is still plenty of sexism out there, and thanks to shows like Entourage it’s even encouraged. It’s great that someone is taking the initiative to give these boys skills they’ll need in the real world.
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Re the Do Not Knock Register:
Go here: http://donotknock.org.au/ and order stickers (for free!) and it makes it unlawful for salespeople to knock. It’s worked for me!
xxx
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It’s worked for me too…and far more effective than the Do Not Call Register – I frequently get 10 or more calls per week from unlisted overseas numbers despite being on the register, and ACMA tells me there is nothing that they can do about it.
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I have a boy in year nine. Do you think getting him to commute to that sydney school (from Melbourne) each day would be ok?
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pretty sure that’s character building
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I have a better idea. Just send him to my mother. We live in Melbourne.
My mum hasn’t done a single chore in years! And when I say years I mean probably close to a decade. She trained my sister and I to do everything around the house from the time we could shuffle our bums along the floor to put back our toys.
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I love the idea of the classes, but on the linked article, the infographic by Joe Hildebrand made me incredibly angry. Men don’t see dirt? Men can’t see wrinkles? Laundry should be segregated like a Mississippi diner in the 1950′s? Shocking.
When are we going to stop perpetrating these ridiculous stereotypes? They just aren’t funny anymore. I have an army background, and every single one of those men can iron a uniform and clean a bathroom like nobodies business, so clearly it’s not a chromosomal inadequacy.
If it was a “joking” spiel about how women are terrible at driving, for example “the car door has two settings, open and shut, the second is the only acceptable option when moving” we would be livid!
(Gosh, sorry about the rant!)
http://the-accidental-housewife.blogspot.com.au/
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No, no, you’re absolutely right! My brother in law has an army background and is the first person in their household to pull out the vacuum. It certainly can be taught.
More army training for everyone?
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I’m with you re the army. My 82 year old FIL was in the military for 26 years and is the most old fashioned of men. That said he irons, can cook simple meals, and clean a kitchen to hospital standard. He’s not a whole heap of fun but still …
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I can vouch for the army training! Everybody needs some. My husband was taught to iron, clean, make a bed etc. and he’s brilliant at it. But it’s not just that he CAN do it, it’s that he DOES do it that makes me happy. Without instruction. He sees mess/ dirt, he cleans/tidies. It’s not an issue.
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When we were both in the army Mr cat would frequently pull me up before leaving the house, to re-iron my uniform, muttering about officers under his breath and telling me “people will think I don’t love you if I let you walk around with your collar like that !”
I have not touched the ironing board since 2008. The man can iron and clean like nobodies business. On the flip side, I do all the cooking and laundry and I pick up the dog poop.
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Gosh, i hope this school is also teaching the girls these skills.
My 19 year old sister doesn’t know how to iron!!!
This story is just singling the boys out – so sexist!
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Isn’t it a boy’s school?!
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It’s an all boy’s school.
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It didn’t say that in the article……
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I am 30 and i can’t iron either. I didn’t think that was unusual!
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Learning how to iron is a 30 sec lesson. I’m self-taught. How the hell do you not know how to iron?
Put the hot flat bit on the cloth and slide it around a bit. Turn down for synthetics, turn up for cotton. It says on the dial.
Lesson done. There’ll be no quiz.
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Trog you make the Army seem soft!
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that’s the way i feel about cooking. open a book. google. how do these people eat?!
youtube taught me to do nori rolls last week. thanks youtube!
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I’m 19 and I don’t iron. Why iron when I have a hair straightener?
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Haha I wil do this on occasions too.
Ironing is easy but buying no-ironing-needed clothes is easier!
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And body heat
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How can someone not iron. It’s not like there is a trick to it.. turn iron on and put hot bit on clothes until no wrinkles.
Having said that I buy clothes that never need ironing because I hate doing it.
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I think the classes for boys is a great idea. I was sent to grooming and deportment classes as a child and they were awesome. There really is something to be said for impeccable manners and being able to act appropriately in different social situations!
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I think it’s great what the school is doing, Bring more of it. They should also show them how to cook basic food ‘healthy’ basic food. There Gould also be something for females in some form also.
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I think this deportment stuff for boys is awesome. Yes, it’s the parent’s responsibility, but sometimes parents don’t teach this. My parents were incredibly slack. I wish they weren’t. I learned when I moved out of home and now I’m a great cook and great at keeping the house clean, but I would have benefited from such a program.
It also helps when the school reinforces good values that are being taught at home, so it’s beneficial for anyone I think. So many young men don’t know their manners these days – I was at dinner one night with my partner, and the man at the table across from us (or should I say boy) was out on a date with his girlfriend. He had his cap on inside, was playing on his phone the whole time, and put his elbows on the table. I’d cringe if I was his girlfriend. The proper points of ettiquette are actually very rarely taught these days, surprisingly.
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So pleased that Malcolm Naden has been caught. Hopefully his victims families will get the justice they have been seeking.
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Seven years in the making, I bet the police are relieved too. He was a dangerous man.
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I bet the people of Gloucester are pretty pleased too. We camp up there a lot and I’m pleased we can now do fear free midnight pee runs.
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I’m surprised at Rick’s response here. Naden has been charged but not found guilty yet!
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