Wow, I stumbled upon this thread and was amazed to see this was even an issue. To correct a few points
- Mrs. S is not a finishing school. It's not even a school. It's a dance class once a month for 8 mos out of the year.
- It costs only about $300 which probably doesn't cover the costs of running it.
- Kids get a bang out of it - at least in the early years. Some kids and parents, like us, get tired of the repetitive nature and the costume demands (halloween, fifties dance costume, western hoedown).
- I don't know of anyone from my kids' school who wanted in and were excluded. That includes everyone, black, Jew, Asian, liberal, conservative.
- I served on the committees and made sure there were kids from every walk of life.
- yes, I believe it is true the organization was sued decades ago for discrimination but no one seems to remember the detail or settlement. I can vouch that the discrimination no longer exists. I got a kick out of the posted newspaper article from 1993. Nobody messes with Bobbie Kilberg and lives to tell about it.
- You are usually recommended by two members of the Committee. The reason behind this today is that they need boys. I was asked point blank if my older daughter were to be accepted would my son, three years behind her, also commit when he was eligible in 5th grade.
- Both kids enjoyed it for a few years. Then the stress of homework and other things just pushed it out of the way.
- I understand that girls that continue with it through high school (we did not) are eventually "presented" at a cotillion ball but the last time I heard the cost was from a disgruntled dad who said he wasn't paying $15,000 to present his daughter to anyone even if it was for charity. This may be myth but it was a good story, nonetheless.
- The boys, however, get to go free to the presentation balls. They also get invited to all the local "real" debutante balls and NYC because they know how to dance. Some of the boys' mothers really get into this at the high school level and hold banquets for the boys in their homes before they attend the local classes (we dropped out)
- At the younger ages, the kids are adorable. Yes, they must go through the receiving line of adults. My husband did this and then was told by someone running the dance "Quick, go wash your hands - you are now covered by every germ from every school in the city". Purell all around.
- My frustration with the classes is that after the receiving line, costume check, a few dancers, oreos and punch I can't really say either of my kids will be able to dance at their weddings.
Then neither can their parents.

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