Finishing schools provide cultural and etiquette training, often for upper-class women, with courses in arts, sports, and languages. Some programs last up to a year, and graduates tend to do well in society. The schools have fallen out of favor, and the term is sometimes used pejoratively to refer to women’s colleges.
A finishing school is an institution that provides training in cultural values and norms. Most are designed for women only and, as the name implies, people attend school after completing basic education, “finishing” their education with instructions on how to live in society. Many of these schools focus specifically on upper-class values, producing educated and educated women, who tend to do very well in society thanks to their extensive training.
The length of a session upon completion of school varies. Some programs last up to a year, while others offer much shorter, more intensive terms. Women in the school are expected to behave in a polite manner, and many schools have dress codes and other behavior requirements that are designed to remind students of basic rules of polite behavior.
Of course, etiquette is a huge part of completing school, and etiquette courses include everything from being a well-mannered hostess to meeting foreign dignitaries. In addition to etiquette, students also learn about a variety of activities. Many schools offer instruction in the arts such as painting and dancing, and also offer things like tennis, horse riding, skiing and so on, ensuring that their graduates can enjoy themselves in a variety of situations. Language teaching has also been classically offered in this type of school.
Much of the instruction at such a school has historically focused on improving existing skills. Upper-class women would have already been well versed in etiquette, for example, and many had already developed skills in sports and the arts. However, finishing school would refine these skills, preparing women for a wide variety of social situations and showing them how to behave like adults.
Elementary schools have fallen a lot in the modern age, although some still exist, and some people mourn the passing of tradition. The term has also been used pejoratively to refer to women’s colleges that are designed to produce educated, compliant women who intend to marry immediately rather than pursue careers.
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