The Lines are Blurring. Again
October 16, 2017
The Lines are Blurring. Again
By: Stephanie Sweat, Principal
For the record, I am not a big fan of the Girl Scouts of America. Mostly because of their affiliations with liberal/feminist groups and ideology. Nor am I a fan of the Boy Scouts of America. Mostly because of their recent stance on allowing homosexual leaders as well as transgendered members. BUT, having said that, I’m certainly not a fan of allowing girls to be in the boy scouts or vice-versa. That’s why it’s called BOY SCOUTS and GIRL SCOUTS.
Much has changed since the early years of scouting. When the Boy Scout program came to the United States in the early 1900s, James E. West, a young lawyer and advocate of children’s rights, was hired to help grow the program. One of his first tasks was devise a handbook adapted for American boys. West was instrumental in expanding the third part of the Scout Oath: “To help other people at all times; to keep myself physically strong, mentally awake, and morally straight.” WHOA! That wouldn’t fly today!
Not only that, he also pushed to add three parts to the Scout Law: brave, clean, and reverent. He then pressed article III of the constitution of the of BSA, now known as the religious principle: “Boy Scouts of America believes that no member can grow into the best kind of citizen without recognizing an obligation to God.” Indeed much has changed.
The Girl Scout Law has been changed several times since 1912. The original Girl Scout Law written by Juliette Gordon Low included: A Girl Scout is to be trusted, to be courteous, to be a friend to animals, obeys orders, is to be cheerful, is to be thrifty – to name a few expectations.
Had we adhered to the principles of the early Boy Scouts and Girl Scouts, we might not be in the position we are today, where boys think they have the right to join girls’ clubs and girls desire to become Eagle Scouts. This bastion of hope has once again failed our children. Very sad.
