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Here is just one reason: Dr. J.B. Elzy, principal at McNeel Middle School, Beloit.
"The Bachelors' Club grew out of a need to deal with problems we were having in the lunchroom," said Dr. J.B. Elzy, the principal at the McNeel Middle School on Beloit's northwest side.
"Some of the students showed a lot of disrespect for one another, to the school facilities and to themselves. The supervisors were having trouble in all three lunch periods," he said. "Something had to be done."
Armed with a doctorate in educational administration earned in 1977 at the University of Virginia, Dr. Elzy had been the assistant principal at Beloit's Memorial High School for 12 years before moving across town to McNeel in 1994.
"I wanted to be personally involved with the students. Principals often lose this," he said. "The lunchroom situation started me thinking, and the result was the Bachelors' Club."
"What impressed me as much as the improved lunchroom situation was that this entire initiative was undertaken by the ultimate disciplinarian, the principal. When kids see that person in a totally different role, the lessons they learn may be even more real and lasting." |
Suggestions from faculty members formed the basis of the program. The objective was simple: teach respect for one another by helping selected students learn proper table etiquette. Because 12 young men were part of the experimental program in the first year, the name Bachelors' Club seemed to fit.
"I was a bachelor myself for a long time, and I knew that certain cooking skills would have helped me," said Dr. Elzy. "It seemed the natural thing to blend what I call 'survival cooking skills' with how to act properly at the table."
Elzy captured the interest of 15 African-American men from the community. They became role models and mentors for the program and provided the food and the rides home. "Their financial generosity and time commitment were the key factors in getting this program started," Elzy said.
"Each student got a notebook and printed material dealing with etiquette. Our goal was to teach them some basic cooking skills so they could prepare some common food selections, set the table, and serve the meal properly," said Dr. Elzy. "The original plan was to have the boys invite their mother or grandmother or some other adult female to the last dinner of the year."
That last meal was to have taken place at a local restaurant where the boys could publicly demonstrate their correct table manners. "We wanted the young men to feel confident that they could escort a lady to dinner and behave in the appropriate fashion," he said.
"I didn't pursue that part of the program with as much fervor as I should have," Elzy admitted, "so the restaurant event didn't happen. But we did have a wonderful meal right here in school and each of the young men invited an adult female guest."
Judy Hueschen, one of the McNeel teachers who attended that year-end meal said, "My young escort was so proud that he could do things correctly. He seated me and it was obvious that he had been practicing his table manners."
"It made a difference because we saw these students in a different situation. And lunchroom problems decreased dramatically," she added.
The program is no longer an experiment. Dr. Elzy is currently planning to expand the Bachelors' Club to include girls. "Of course, this added dimension will mean some problems, but it will also offer some great possibilities as well," he said.
"We will need both male and female mentors and we may have to change the name of the program to be less gender specific," he laughed.
McNeel science teacher, Lee Davis, provided another perspective.
"What impressed me as much as the improved lunchroom situation was that this entire initiative was undertaken by the ultimate disciplinarian, the principal. When kids see that person in a totally different role, the lessons they learn may be even more real and lasting," said Davis.
Public Schools Work for Wisconsin. One of the reasons they do is that caring, creative individuals like Principal J.B. Elzy work in them.
Photo: Principal J.B. Elzy is often on the run at Beloit's McNeel Middle School . Photo by Pete Roller.
Posted April 25, 1997