The Academy for Encouragment Reversal. Above: a class of new mothers learning how to negatively reinforce their children.

Elanour DeWitt, of Decatur, Georgia was just plain sick of her daughter losing beauty pageants. In 1997, she was at her wits end when she had a revelation: her daughter was not going to win unless she herself changed her attitude and demeanor. "My days were filled with telling Shawna just how beautiful she was," remembers DeWitt, "I realized that I was tired of filling her head with fantasies of winning a pageant, or possibly the six-foot trophy, or even the 400 dollars in cash. It was time for a change."

Since then, DeWitt employed a temporary helper to take Shawna on the road while DeWitt took time off to establish the "Academy for Encouragement Reversal," based outside of Decatur, Georgia. The Academy claims in its brochure to "cure any and all semblances of desire to encourage or use positivity during the preparation, training or execution of any beauty pageant, foreign or domestic."

Over 12 parents have enrolled in several different courses, offerings range from "Letting 5-7 year olds Know Who Exactly is Boss," to "Tell Them They're Ugly Once in a While: The Truth behind the Truth."

Recently Crowned "Supreme Most Beautiful Girl in the Entire World - and Most Likely to have a modeling career by the age of six - Marlene Fesnick of South Decatur, Georgia.

"It's hard for some parents," comments DeWitt, "I often videotape the classes, and later screen the sessions with friends and mothers who have already taken the course. We usually rip on them for a while, and try to guess who's going to be the weakest Negative Reinforcer. It's a hoot."

"The courses are designed to instruct parents on how to get their children to win southern beauty pageants, and that's all," comments one satisfied parent from South Decatur, Georgia. "Ever since I've taken the course, I see a lot more tears, a lot more anguish, but let's face it: I also see a LOT more cash."

Recently named Supreme Grand Beauty Super Beautiful Love Fairy Runner-Up, Shanice Sanders has been declared ineligible for this coming month's pageants in Georgia, Texas, Alabama, Florida, and Mississippi. Her mother Darlene, has decided to take her to Afghanistan, where she will compete with other southern beauties for the prestigious title of Supreme Beauty Grand Princess Child Laborer. "Her dad and I think she may have a really good chance in the 5-7 year old Child Laborer category. She's gonna do her Bizarre Little Dolly Sexual Bait Routine." Sanders, a recent graduate of DeWitt's program keeps the trip a secret, claiming that 'mysterious trips' are always GREAT negative reinforcement. "We're gonna play this one by the book," says Darlene, "I'm gonna end up spending more than eight thousand dollars on this pageant, so I at least want to come back with one of the bigger trophies."

DeWitt's Academy is an accredited institution, and offers financing as well as scholarships and work-study programs. Interested mother's should send an 8x10 of themselves in an encouraging position. This picture will later be used as a "before" picture. Let's hope that the "after" picture includes some tears, but more importantly, a Diamondelle studded crown.