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New York, 2:54 PM
Sat Nov 28
24 posts in the last 24 hours
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07/24/09
My project might have been sneered at by some: I created a fashion show and accompanying curriculum (part of the ongoing requirement) around history of fashion and appropriate dressing for school and work aimed at girls in late elementary and early middle school. I got to incorporate two of my passions: vintage clothing and helping other girls get a leg up in the business/professional world.
This girl has a passion for her religion. Just because I and many others disagree with it shouldn't be a reason for her to not pursue her passion.
07/23/09
07/23/09
I suppose we could say that this an example of Girl Scouts' tolerance of other beliefs but I can't help but wonder if this girl would have still gotten her award (or even gotten approved) if she had decided to teach the old Hebrew Laws or the five pillars of Islam. Sadly, I really think not.
07/23/09
07/23/09
07/23/09
Please don't hate on the Boy Scouts because the people at the very top of the organization, along with a handful of troops are homophobes and otherwise intolerant. Most groups are actually rather open-minded and in the end they're there to help people. I personally credit the Boy Scouts and the people I met through them as being really good role models that I otherwise wouldn't have had in a very chaotic and unhealthy childhood.
07/23/09
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07/23/09
If this scout put in the required work, good for her. I'm sure my project would make her cringe just as much as hers makes me cringe. So appearing ignorant and awful to a certain section of the population is just NOT a good enough reason do deny a scout her Gold Award.
07/23/09
http://www.boyandgirlscouts.com/recognition/sundays-golden-girls-04052009/
*A Californian raised awareness about a dangerous section of highway. Unfortunately, city officials didn't take action quickly enough and there was a terrible accident there.
*Four Floridian Girl Scouts' created a butterfly garden in memory of a man who worked at their GS camp.
*An MA GS started a program (including website, youthvoteMA.org) to increase voter registration and civic engagement among high school students.
*Six Ma scouts repaired and refurbished a family shelter.
*A girl from NJ raised awareness (and medical supplies) for health issues in Uganda
*Another NJ scout taught pottery to children (and their families) with intellectual disabilities.
These are from the week leading up to April fifth, because I'm having trouble navigating the site.
07/23/09
http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_m1282/is_20_52/ai_65805932/?tag=content;col1
Hahahaha, she says it as if it's a bad thing!
07/23/09
07/23/09
"I'm also guessing that if she was allowed to teach it in schools it was something that would have been offered there to start with."
what? are you saying this should be taught in public schools? Because you do realize its religion not science, right? (please say right...)
07/23/09
07/23/09
One should not be rewarded for perpetuating ignorance.
07/23/09
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07/23/09
But on the other hand, the description of the Girl Scout Gold Award says: "The project is something that fulfills a need within a girl's community (whether local or global), creates change, and hopefully, is something that becomes ongoing." And I don't really see there being a NEED in her community for this, unless schools were desperate to teach creationism and couldn't because they didn't have the materials.
So yeah. I'm torn.
07/23/09
Note: I am against teaching religious myths of any kind in schools, and am not torn in any way. I am also offended by it because I am a Scout; preaching is not part of deal.
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07/23/09
Some Evangelicals found the Girl Scouts' lack of Christian focus and inclusiveness to be so off-putting that they founded a competing group called American Heritage Girls with a Christian focus:
http://www.ahgonline.org/pages/page.asp?page_id=18722
I just went through the training to lead my daughter's Girl Scout troop this year, and I'd say the overwhelming message of the training was twofold: (1) stressing diversity and inclusion and (2) empowerment of the girls in the troop.
Also, @Zombie Ms. Skittles mentions that GSA groups are mostly in churches. In our area, that's not the case -- I believe here almost all the troops are in the schools.
07/23/09
07/23/09
The world doesn't need more young women passionately interested in pseudo-science, it needs more young women passionately interested in ACTUAL science. We already have too many of the former, not enough of the latter.
07/23/09
This girl may not end up with a PhD in evolutionary biology, but she may end up as a leader in her community. If the Girl Scouts doesn't endorse either side of the evolution/creationism argument, then I think they should be promoting successful girls doing things on either side.
07/23/09
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07/23/09
My own troop leaders and council were seriously tough. I had to rewrite my proposal twice, and re-interview each time, to demonstrate that my project would actually (1) be new and original, and (2) benefit my community at large for years to come. I find this young woman's project mostly upsetting because creationism is so exclusionary--denying the relationship between humans and the rest of planet--and that's really not what the Girl Scouts are all about. What good can come from more religious hegemony in the public schools?