From: Wendell Brown (wbrown@ARKIE.NET)
Date: Mon Jun 12 2000 - 11:03:30 CDT
On Sun, 11 Jun 2000 15:53:02 -0500, Jim Peterson wrote:
>Page 8&9 of the SM Handbook discusses the methods of Scouting.
>
>"Method 5 - Association with adults" (notice, it doesn't say "male
>adults"). "Boys learn a great deal by watching how adults conduct
>themselves. Scout leaders can be positive role models for the
>members of their troops. In many cases a Scoutmaster who is willing
>to listen to boys, encourage them, and take a sincere interest in
>them can make a profound difference in their lives."
I can't belive I am actually jumping in here, but.... When I attended
my Woodbadge precourse meeting a few months ago I was QUITE surprised
to see "STRONG MALE ROLE MODEL" on one of the BSA posters on the wall.
However, when the presenter got to that point they specifically said
"Association with adults". Some of the problem may be that people need
to keep current with the OFFICIAL position of the organization.
I know of at least two really good leaders (our District Training Chair
and the Boy Scout Training Sub-Chair) that were blown off by the troop
they share a CO with! The troop not only blew off these women but they
basically blew off the boys that were in their Webelos dens as well
(two years in a row and working on three) by ignoring 6 months worth of
requests to set up a Webelos / BS event for the boys to get their Arrow
Of Light. Another troop in the area welcomed these same ladies into
their unit and worked with them to get their boys the required Boy
Scout joint event and guess what, most of the boys went to the troop
that HELPED THEM!
I wouldn't be surprised if some units with this male only attitude lose
enough boys that they end up losing their charter. While this would be
a shame it would certainly take care of the gender bias in that unit.
