Supreme Court Justice Clarence Thomas once said, “Good manners will open doors that the best education cannot.”
At Connally ISD, students have the opportunity to work on developing good habits not just in their academics, but in their demeanor as well.
Students at Connally Elementary School have adjusted to the routine of the 2023 - 2024 school year. Now, they are working on strengthening their attitudes and behaviors with the help of the campus’s Modern Gentlemen and Classy Cadet clubs.
“I first started the Modern Gentlemen club because I saw a real need for it on our campus,” sponsor Samuel Clayton said. “At the time, we were seeing a lot of fights on our campus; our boys just weren’t getting along. After thinking about it for a bit, I realized that we needed a place for those boys to learn what it means to behave like a gentleman. That would solve a lot of problems.”
The organization provides students with an opportunity to learn about how to behave with appropriate manners. It also teaches students about how to give back to their community, utilize a service-oriented mindset, and develop and maintain healthy relationships with their peers.
“The kids look forward to coming to the elementary school because of these two great clubs,” CES principal Katie Redden said. “Mr. Clayton and Mrs. Rex both show such enthusiasm for this program - it’s infectious. It provides a level of accountability for our students that helps them out so much not only during their days in elementary school, but in life.”
When the organization first started, it attracted a large number of boys to participate. As the popularity grew, the Classy Cadets club was added to provide the same opportunities for the girls.
“Our goal is to provide our young ladies with a chance to embrace how outstanding they are while learning about how they become even greater,” CES counselor and Classy Cadets sponsor Julie Rex said. “We want them to learn about etiquette and politeness, sure, but we really want them to learn how to practice kindness. That means being kind to themselves, to each other, and to the community that they are a part of.”
As the years progressed, the organizations became a key pillar of the Connally Elementary experience. They have since worked to provide activities for both students and the community outside of the school building, which Mr. Clayton feels is a key element of what the club seeks to teach.
“We’re really excited to start doing more things to get involved in the Connally community,” Clayton said. “One of the things that we’re doing is sponsoring tailgate events for different groups in our community at the home football games. We want to celebrate our dads, our moms, our grandparents, and the entire community that makes up our school. We are one big team - everyone helps everyone else be successful.”
With a legacy that includes years of proud alumni, there is no shortage of older students to brag on the impact that participating in either group had on them.
“Being in the Modern Gentlemen taught me how to behave properly in both public and private - it taught me how to be a young man,” twelfth grader and five star football prospect Kobe Black said. “When I go on college visits and talk to coaches, it’s important that I behave the right way. Because of what I learned back in elementary school, I never have to worry or be nervous about how those meetings will go.”
Students who participate in either club are given the opportunity to develop themselves as students and citizens. That is an experience that benefits them for life.
“I love having the chance to do things to help the teachers,” fifth grader Arijah Robinson said. “They work hard to help us learn. Doing nice things for other people helps everyone out.”
As both groups gear up for a year full of community service initiatives, their members find themselves eager to learn more lessons.
“I think that the Modern Gentlemen club is a great place to learn about your manners,” Modern Gentleman President Robert Lafferty said. “It teaches us to do things like say ‘yes ma’am’ and ‘no sir’, but it also shows us how to be nice to adults. Learning those manners helps you get through life easier.”