From The Trussville Tribune staff reports
TRUSSVILLE –The winds of change continue to blow through the Boy Scouts of America organization.
After the decision to accept gay scouts in 2013 and transgender scouts earlier this year, BSA announced on Wednesday that the group will begin accepting girls in the older group in 2019. Cub Scouts, the younger groups, will offer separate dens for boys and girls.
The decision has opened a rift between the BSA and the Girl Scouts of the United States of America.
“I’ve seen nothing that develops leadership skills and discipline like this organization,” BSA president Randall Stephenson said. “It is time to make these outstanding leadership development programs available to girls.”
But the Girl Scouts strongly disagreed.
While not addressing the Boy Scouts by name, GSA immediately released a statement of their own touting the leadership qualities and success of their program which is more than a century old.
“Girl Scouts is the best girl leadership organization in the world, created with and for girls,” according to the Girl Scout’s statement. “We believe strongly in the importance of the all-girl, girl-led, and girl-friendly environment that Girl Scouts provides, which creates a free space for girls to learn and thrive.
According to GSA, former girl scouts are better educated and have more success in their careers than girls who didn’t participate in scouting, enjoy higher household and personal income, are more active as mentors and community volunteers, and have more confidence in themselves and their abilities.
Additionally, 90 percent of female astronauts, 80 percent of female tech leaders, 75 percent of current senators, and all female U.S. Secretaries of State are Girl Scout alumnae.
“The benefit of the single-gender environment has been well-documented by educators, scholars, other girl- and youth-serving organizations, and Girl Scouts and their families,” according to the GSA statement. “Girl Scouts offers a one-of-a-kind experience for girls with a program tailored specifically to their unique developmental needs.”
The Boy Scouts said the decision was supported by extensive research and fit the overall mission of BSA.
“This decision is true to the BSA’s mission and core values outlined in the Scout Oath and Law. The values of Scouting — trustworthy, loyal, helpful, kind, brave and reverent, for example — are important for both young men and women,” Michael Surbaugh, chief executive of the Boy Scouts of America, said in a statement.
According to the Los Angeles Times, some in Girl Scout leadership view the BSA decision as a move to bolster a decline in Boy Scout participation.
The Boy Scouts, which have a stated enrollment of about 2.3 million, have seen a sharp drop in membership over the last several decades from their high point of 5 million in the 1970’s.
41 Comments
Pamela Whittington Shepard
Why? Then it won’t be Boy Scouts ! I love girl time without boys!!!
Judy Hulsey Acton
If nobody’s happy about it, then whose idea was it?
Drake Riley
Bethany Serafin Riley
Charles Bush
The Boy Scouts of America is DEAD. I was a scout a ling time ago but I would not be one today. And I would not allow my son in that corrupted organization. The scouts is a good example of just how bad political correctness and “leftist” thinking can destroy what was a great club.
Sheila Johnson Sutton
Ridiculous.☹️
Sharon Seibers Keane
Human individuality is quickly going the way of the dodo.
Tombstone Ted
We are doomed as a nation and a people…. as in the days of Noah…
Susan Woodham
The oath also reads to be straight. It’s a shame. Can you imagine a girl being on her period while camping with the boys in sub-zero temp? My son is an Eagle Scout and it is not the same organization when he was in in the 90’s. BTW, they camped in 16 degree weather one night. They got up early and headed home, though . Safety first.
Casie Duggan Payne
Because I’m on my period I can’t camp! That is just dumb!!
Michael Stanley
They will now have shopping badges and cookie sales. Would you eat a cookie that says BS on it?
Amber Strongulus Ehrman-Jones
Casie Duggan Payne I was JUST about to say….wth?
Casie Duggan Payne
Amber Strongulus Ehrman-Jones I know! Who knew you can’t camp on your period? No one told me.
Amber Strongulus Ehrman-Jones
Casie Duggan Payne just one more thing that girls can’t do bc of how it might affect the boys!
Melissa Thompson
Susan Woodham that’s the most ignorant thing that has hit my eyeballs today. Things I have done during my period: camped outdoors in Bastogne in December, backpacked part of the Appalachian Trail, ran marathons, bungee jumped, and so much more.
Judy Williams Coleman
I will no longer support the Boy Scouts! They have strayed away from all their morels! It’s such a shame
Jimmy Goeb
Can boys join the Girl Scouts?
Josh Burgans
A lot of people say that Girl Scouts doesn’t offer a lot of what Boy Scouts offers so girls should be able to join, but there are alternatives to Girl Scouts like Frontier Scouts for girls or Venture Scouts for teens that are more comparative to the programs and activities Boy Scouts offers.
Laurie Pryor Brockman
Yeah, sorry, but as a girl scout, completing part of the first class requirements, me and 5 troop members spent a weekend in January 1975, primitive camping ! Pitching tents, cooking over the fire we had to build, and digging our own crap hole. All, while in freezing weather and some even dealing with that wonderful monthly visitor ! Had no problem and all six of us became First Class Girl Scouts in May 1975 !
Kelli Penque
Ok but will the cookies be impacted? That’s all I really care about
Kelli Penque
I think if we’re so concerned about periods, now would be a good time to normalize it. I shouldn’t have to be worried to be a lady. I remember being in middle school and terrified to ask a friend for a feminine product. It shouldn’t be that way and the more we use that as an excuse the more it will stay that way.
Patti Payne Apicelli
Melissa Thompson bears smell blood
Alexis Little
I think the boys and girls scouts should just combine to form the scouts. Because girl scouts sucks. We didn’t learn anything cool like the boys did. We were trained to be little homemakers.
Dana McCaslin Thorn
ASININE and DISGUSTING!!
Lori Chandler Pruitt
Fighting for those who have not quit already I guess.
Ron Cherry
This is the dumbest thing I have ever heard. When these kids get older are they going to go on coed camping trips. Haven’t thought about that. Hmmm
Michelle Allen Houston
If a girl is having her period while on a boy scout outing she’ll have what she needs, because scouts are prepared! Hell, even my son has a couple tampons in his backpack for friends. Because he’s a scout. He’s prepared. It’s kinda their thing.
Tina Weems Nicholas
Sad.
Toni Harrison Atkins
Morels? Like the mushrooms?
Toni Harrison Atkins
Melissa Thompson everyone knows you can’t rub sticks together to make a fire on your period, that’s how you summon demons.
Judy Williams Coleman
Toni Harrison Atkins like what ever you want it to be!
Melissa Thompson
Patti Payne Apicelli bears also smell stupidity, so you’d better watch your back. Give me a break and stop spreading ignorance. Bears don’t give a crap if you are on your period. They are attracted to food that you leave around your campsite and in your pack. Also, it’s not like it will kill boys if they figure out a girl is on her period. It’s abnormal body process that affects half of the population and no one should have to be ashamed of menstruating. 🙄
Melissa Thompson
Toni Harrison Atkins hey that only happened once!
Okay, twice.
Mary Jane Anderlik
Michelle Allen Houston amen!!!!
My daughter comes camping with my son and I on scouting camp outs and has been on her period a couple of times during these camp outs. Really, no one else should know because it’s none of their business. Not like she changes at the campfire🙄
Cat Denham
I’m confused. So they didn’t let girls go camping in girls scout so we’re taking over boys scouts? So girls can camp? Right?
Rachel Alvis
Looks like Nic got out just in time, sad is right.
Tammy McCown
So maybe girls should stay home from school when they have their period? Ladies leave work?
Tammy McCown
What is a morel?
Tammy McCown
They di offer all that. All you have to do is google tne GS program.
Judy Williams Coleman
Tammy McCown so I can’t spell but I do have morals!
Patsy Wills
What is di
Cheryl Stone-Hamilton
That is my recollection from when my daughter belonged…briefly. Also how to properly wash her face and apply makeup.