Boy Scouts Allowing Females to Join
The Boy Scouts Board of Directors announced that females will now be allowed to join Cub Scout troupes on Wednesday, October 11th. They also announced that now anyone can be moved up to an Eagle Scout as they grow into teenagers. Conflict has now begun with the Girl Scouts of America Organization, as they believe that girls should stick together, saying “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. Girl Scouts offers a one-of-a-kind experience for girls with a program tailored specifically to their unique developmental needs.”
The Boy Scout organization has been around for 107 years, and throughout these years boys have grown together while learning the skills that men were typically expected to know. This decision had been discussed for many years but the controversy never brought up any news, until now. “The historic decision comes after years of receiving requests from families and girls,” Boy Scouts of America said in a statement.
The organization also included in their statement that they wish to help with busy families consolidate their activities. For example, if a family’s son is a Boy Scout, then it would work well if that same family’s daughter is one as well. The BSA statement also said, “Families today are busier and more diverse than ever. Most are dual-earners and there are more single-parent households than ever before, making convenient programs that serve the whole family more appealing.”
Girl Scouts of American do not like this decision. “The need for female leadership has never been clearer or more urgent than it is today — and only Girl Scouts has the expertise to give girls and young women the tools they need for success,” Girl Scouts USA said. This past summer the Girl Scout Organization accused the BSA for recruiting females only to boost their numbers. In past years, both organizations have decreased in size.
Stay tuned for updates from the Chieftain Press on this massive controversy.
Sources:
http://www.cnn.com/2017/10/11/us/boy-scouts-will-allow-girls-to-join/index.html
