Anyone else think Girls on the Run is a rip-off?

[Anonymous]

My daughter is doing something called Fit Girls. They are running 2x a week after school for 8 (?) weeks and then doing a 5K. It seems to be run by teachers. It was $10 which includes the race and a t-shirt.

[Anonymous]

16:49 and 18:45, I am so sorry that you are having these experiences. This is absolutely the antithesis of what Girls on the Run is about. Despite the name, it is not a running program. I'd encourage you to address this with the coaches. My first season as a coach, we had an issue on a small team with three girls trying to be exclusive. We worked very hard to address it in a number of ways. It's truly not a running program, the curriculum and character development aspect is the whole point.

Obviously, I've posted multiple times and am a huge supporter and believer in this program. I've kept in touch with many of the families whose daughters I've coached over the years, and am delighted to see who they are becoming as middle and high schoolers. While I obviously can't say that GOTR is the only reason for that, I hope it played some role in their development as young women.

OP, I hope that you do decide to give it a shot, for even one season, and that your daughter's experience is as wonderful as I know it can be.

[Anonymous]

The program exists in my school but I was always under the impression that it was free. It is a rip off if indeed the cost is so high.

[Anonymous]

My daughter loves GOTR. The effect of finishing her first race was amazing for her self confidence. I wish it was a year around program - its that good.

[Anonymous]

Glad for all of you who have found your daughters like GOTR. Have heard good things from parents of daughters of girls in our neighborhood.

And agree with other parent of boys. There's a lot of testosterone running around my house and wish we had a program for boys. Saying there are sports for boys and that boys just don't have same issues is a cop-out.

There are sports for girls this age, too. I see plenty of them play soccer, basketball, swimming and gymnastics.

One son spent several years being the target of bullies. He actually took up running b/c he realized he realized that if he ran fast, the bullies couldn't catch him. Sometimes, moms are just more in tune with the ways girls' minds work b/c, well, we're girls. But that doesn't mean that our boys don't need a really well-designed boy version (probably needs to be designed by a man!)

[Anonymous]

I'm the mom of a boy, and I think GOTR sounds fantastic. I'm glad it is there! I do wish there were more programs for boys, too, though. There seems to be this flip "well, boys can do sports or boy scouts" think. Yes, and girls can do sports or girl scouts, too, but there is the need for GOTR too, right? Same with boys. And no, they aren't going to sit around and pick apart their feelings in a circle, but they DO have feelings and they need to work through them and deal with bullying, changing bodies, etc. etc. I get frustrated with some of my friends who used to be fairly unconcerned with equal rights and women's equality until they had a daughter, and now they are all girl power. I'm glad they got a clue, but they are leaving the other half of the equality equation out if they forget to support the boys. The boys need to grow to be fabulous partners for these great girls, you know?

[Anonymous]

I heard some inner city schools have started 'Gentlemen's Clubs' to help upper elementary into high school boys deal with body issues and also grow up to respect each other, women, and behave well in society. Not sure if there is a more suburban type of club available around here, but I think a lot of boys could benefit from focusing on these skills. Perhaps a club could be geared around sports, or not. Luckily we do have an active boy scouts program which does help with some of these skills.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I'm the mom of a boy, and I think GOTR sounds fantastic. I'm glad it is there! I do wish there were more programs for boys, too, though. There seems to be this flip "well, boys can do sports or boy scouts" think. Yes, and girls can do sports or girl scouts, too, but there is the need for GOTR too, right? Same with boys. And no, they aren't going to sit around and pick apart their feelings in a circle, but they DO have feelings and they need to work through them and deal with bullying, changing bodies, etc. etc. I get frustrated with some of my friends who used to be fairly unconcerned with equal rights and women's equality until they had a daughter, and now they are all girl power. I'm glad they got a clue, but they are leaving the other half of the equality equation out if they forget to support the boys. The boys need to grow to be fabulous partners for these great girls, you know?

I'm the PP who first mentioned that GOTR had piloted a boys' program but found that the boys, their parents and the potential male coaches weren't interested in that kind of curriculum. I didn't mean to be flip by referencing boys' sports teams, I was trying to respond to a PP who seemed to imply that there are no boys-only activities out there. Although I don't have a son, there's no question in my mind that both genders have issues to face as they become young adults. GOTR attempted to see if their model would work with boys of that age, but found that it wasn't an approach that worked for that demographic. I have an interest and background in girls' issues but don't have similar exposure to how to work with boys in age and developmentally-appropriate ways to deal with their needs. I agree that it would be great if someone with a vision similar to GOTR stepped forward for boys.

[Anonymous]

I happy for any type of program that teaches character building and inclusiveness and will gladly pay more for this than a typical after school sports fee. I wish there was something at the school for girls and boys. Schools just don't have enough time to teach everything, but someone needs to help in this area. I'm so sick of reading of yet another school shooting in the paper.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I'm the mom of a boy, and I think GOTR sounds fantastic. I'm glad it is there! I do wish there were more programs for boys, too, though. There seems to be this flip "well, boys can do sports or boy scouts" think. Yes, and girls can do sports or girl scouts, too, but there is the need for GOTR too, right? Same with boys. And no, they aren't going to sit around and pick apart their feelings in a circle, but they DO have feelings and they need to work through them and deal with bullying, changing bodies, etc. etc. I get frustrated with some of my friends who used to be fairly unconcerned with equal rights and women's equality until they had a daughter, and now they are all girl power. I'm glad they got a clue, but they are leaving the other half of the equality equation out if they forget to support the boys. The boys need to grow to be fabulous partners for these great girls, you know?

Another mom of a boy who feels this way. I'm all for equal rights and women's equality, but please, don't do that while actively leaving our boys out!

[Anonymous]

Again one program can't be all things for all kids. To say that there shouldn't be programs for girls because they exclude boys is just silly. Different audiences require different approaches if you want the program to be effective.

[Anonymous]

Another mom of a boy who feels this way. I'm all for equal rights and women's equality, but please, don't do that while actively leaving our boys out!

A poster has already shared how GOTR tried a boy's version and there wasn't enough interest. Apparently, boys need something different. If you are passionate about the needs of boys, PP, then start a program for them. Or sponsor someone else to start a program for them. No one here is suggesting that boys don't deserve the same high quality programming that GOTR has. There's just not enough interest and drive....yet.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:My question is why is there only Girls on the Run and no Boys on the Run or Kids on the Run? Now our schools has a class for Girls interested in math and science careers. Why this specific focus on girls? All the studies I read say that boys have the most health issues growing up and fall the most behind in schools, but the only segregated programs I see cater to girls instead. Not that it is a bad program, but I don't see the need for all this segregation or at least would like to see a balance. Where are the classes or opportunities to help boys get interested in teaching, learn to cook, learning drawing, dancing, etc.?

There are running programs developed for boys. If your school isn't offering one, ask why or volunteer. Girls on the Run exists because someone wanted to do the work. If you want a boys' program, do the work.


Here's a list to get you started:
http://www.kidsrunning.com/kraskprogram.html

[Anonymous]

I'm one of the posters who wishes there was something like GOTR for boys. For everyone saying "why don't you start one if there is a need" - its for the same reason there isn't one already. Moms tend to do this stuff. I'm a mom, and I wish I had a clue how to get my boy to talk, be in touch with his feelings, make sure he respects girls, etc. Dads...they don't start groups like this as much, so there is a dearth. The lack begets lack, you know what I mean?

[Anonymous]

My girl did Girls on the Run last year and I too wonder where all the money goes. I hear there are some sort of team building classes and stuff like that, but she had no classes, just lots of running. She did like the running but I am just not a big fan of paying lots of money just to run. When I grew up running was free. My wife and i get in fights about paying for this. I think if you have credit card bills, those are more important.