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Co-ed Scouts
Jo Paoletti (jpaolett@ARHU.UMD.EDU)
Wed, 24 Nov 1993 08:05:35 EST
As the mother of a son and a daughter (and a leader in both flavors of
scouting), I have very mixed feelings about co-ed scouting. On the one
hand, I am envious of those countries which have it and where it is
successful, as I believe that is where the future lies for our young
people. But right now, I am very protective of Girl Scouting as an
all-female environment in which girls become empowered, something
which is very hard to accomplish in a co-ed setting. We have a "co-ed"
boys and girls club in our area, but generally the girls are pressured
off the fields and courts by their own male teammates. Unless she is a
star athlete she is unwelcome, and even then she is not treated like a
teammate.
Still, co-ed activities, such as joint service projects, could help
boys and girls see each other as co-workers and allies, and perhaps
eventually as people of equal value, which would benefit both males
and females. Perhaps that is the way to begin.
Jo Paoletti jpaolett@arhu.umd.edu
"It is a higher joy to teach than to be taught"-- A.N. Whitehead
Terry Howerton Sakima Group, Inc. SCOUTER Magazine Kansas City |
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