Re: Co-ed Scouting
B.T.D.Reed1 (B.T.D.Reed1@LOUGHBOROUGH.AC.UK)
Wed, 24 Nov 1993 13:47:52 GMT
As a new addition to the Scouts-L list I have been reading with interest
the discussion on Co-ed Scouting.
One comment was made that Co-ed Scouting in the UK was working well. This is
very true, I have attended meetings of several sections, Beavers, Cubs, and
Scouts in recent months where the colony, pack or troop are mixed. The general
impression I get from these groups is that all are equal. It is very rare to
find a group in which one sex has 'Taken over' and those groups (Scouts an
Ventures) in which the Scouts themselves have a much bigger hand in the program
planning, seem to work much more effectively and have a far wider variety of
activities than those single sex groups which remain.
I must point out however that although Scouting in the UK is now a mixed
organisation, this is not necessarily the case in every group. Before any
section of the group (except ventures) can take female members they must:
1) Have an agreement that the entire group (Beavers, Cubs & Scouts) will also
accept females
2) Have a female leader.
In my own Scout troop we decided that the boys should make the decission, we
had a debate on it and the end result was a 70% no vote.
The question has been raised again recently when one of the boys' sister asked
if she could join. Due to this we are intending to debate it again in a couple
of weeks time.
I'll post a transcript of the debate afterwards as I think we should all be
considering the boys opinions on such matters which I haven't seen discussed
at all.
Ben Reed
(B.T.D.Reed1@student.lut.ac.uk)
Terry Howerton Sakima Group, Inc. SCOUTER Magazine Kansas City | 
