PHILADELPHIA – There is more to life than reading, writing and arithmetic. A teacher in Philadelphia is making sure his students are ready for the real world.

Teacher Dwayne Frazier has been making a difference for decades and he knows that sometimes you have to dress to impress. 

That means suits, ties, and even fancy shoes. The teacher created the Distinguished Young Gentlemen Club at Lewis C Cassidy elementary school in Philadelphia.

And every other week, they get all dressed up. In this classroom, they are learning more than just lessons from a book. These are life lessons.

Dwayne says his father taught him and his brother how to tie a necktie, polish their shoes, shake hands, and how to look people in the eye. And he says those lessons stayed with him throughout his life.

He hopes to pass that on to these kids.

“What makes a distinguished young gentleman. Respect, responsibility, reading, resilience, resignment,” Frazier said.

“It’s about manners, appearances, and self-respect. Learn how to think before they speak, not react with emotions. Learn how to dress before job interviews, learn how to treat women. All these things that we are teaching them will help them in the game of life.”

Right now, the club meets after school once a week, but Dwayne and his volunteers say they are hoping to expand and make this a Monday through Friday experience. 

And Dwayne’s hoping for Distinguished Young Gentlemen all over, thinking perhaps other schools will use this as a model to start their own clubs.Â