The Status Civilization

"I see. And the lower middle classes?" "Well, for one thing they lack creative energy. They wear ready-made clothing, for example, without taking the trouble to improve upon it. The same goes for their homes. Mere uninspired adornment won't do, let me add. That's simply the mark of the nouveau upper middle class. One doesn't receive such persons in the home." "Thank you, Citizen Gotthreid. And where would you classify yourself statuswise?" (With the very faintest hesitation). "Oh, I've never thought much about it--upper middle, I suppose." (Citizen Dreister, age 43, occupation shoe vendor. A slender, mild man, young-looking for his years.) "Yes, sir. Myra and I have three children of school age. All boys." "Could you give me some idea what their education consists of?" "They learn how to read and write, and how to become good citizens. They're already starting to learn their trades. The oldest is going into the family business--shoes. The other two are taking apprenticeship courses in groceries and retail marketing. That's my wife's family's business. They also learn how to retain status, and how to utilize standard techniques for moving upward. That's about what goes on in the open classes." "Are there other school classes which are not open?" "Well, naturally there are the closed classes. Every child attends them." "And what do they learn in the closed classes?" "I don't know. They're closed, as I said." "Don't the children ever speak about those classes?" "No. They talk about everything under the sun, but not about that."