Is cub/Boy Scouts considered dorky?

[Anonymous]

Past elementary school, absolutely.

I'm a MS teacher and I wish more parents would MAKE their kids conform and be like the masses. There's plenty of time to be an individual after age 18. Until then, those are the most important formative years and it hurts me so much to see or hear about a kid being teased for being different. Of course, teaching tolerance is also very important. If I have to contact a parent about their child being a bully more than once, I seriously look down on that person as a parent. Once, eh, kids can have bad days and be little sh!ts. But twice or three times? Nope, that's on you, mom & dad - you're raising terrible offspring.

Examples I'm talking about when I say conforming: 6th grade boys NOT walking the halls with cartoon/superhero character lunchboxes or backpacks. Sixth grade girls not wearing unicorns or other clothes that look like they came from Justice. Not dressing your son like a mini accountant or your daughter like the female offspring of a political family.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Past elementary school, absolutely.

I'm a MS teacher and I wish more parents would MAKE their kids conform and be like the masses. There's plenty of time to be an individual after age 18. Until then, those are the most important formative years and it hurts me so much to see or hear about a kid being teased for being different. Of course, teaching tolerance is also very important. If I have to contact a parent about their child being a bully more than once, I seriously look down on that person as a parent. Once, eh, kids can have bad days and be little sh!ts. But twice or three times? Nope, that's on you, mom & dad - you're raising terrible offspring.

Examples I'm talking about when I say conforming: 6th grade boys NOT walking the halls with cartoon/superhero character lunchboxes or backpacks. Sixth grade girls not wearing unicorns or other clothes that look like they came from Justice. Not dressing your son like a mini accountant or your daughter like the female offspring of a political family.

What does this have to do with Scouting?

[Anonymous]

Yes dorky starting in about 7 or 8th grade. Maybe your kid is a dork or will be a dork. Just let it be their choice - their choice at 7/8th grade or beyond. A lot will depend on the social make up of the troop. And some scouts grow up to be ordinary-enough men. Some, IMHO

[Anonymous]

I think so, unfortunately. My 9 year old still likes it, but my 11 year old (who desperately wants to be 'cool') would never join. If only kids would realize that what is considered dorky when you are under 18 often turns out to make you much more attractive and accomplished as an adult. But I guess that short-sightedness is what makes a kid a kid.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Past elementary school, absolutely.

I'm a MS teacher and I wish more parents would MAKE their kids conform and be like the masses. There's plenty of time to be an individual after age 18. Until then, those are the most important formative years and it hurts me so much to see or hear about a kid being teased for being different. Of course, teaching tolerance is also very important. If I have to contact a parent about their child being a bully more than once, I seriously look down on that person as a parent. Once, eh, kids can have bad days and be little sh!ts. But twice or three times? Nope, that's on you, mom & dad - you're raising terrible offspring.

Examples I'm talking about when I say conforming: 6th grade boys NOT walking the halls with cartoon/superhero character lunchboxes or backpacks. Sixth grade girls not wearing unicorns or other clothes that look like they came from Justice. Not dressing your son like a mini accountant or your daughter like the female offspring of a political family.

So you don't believe that sometimes kids will do exactly what they are told not to do? Really? My kids are not bullies but they do not always listen.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Older kids might enjoy Venture Scouts or Sea Scouts more then a Scout Troop. Venture Scouts do more "extreme" trips and the like and is co-ed. Scout Troops are still gender specific and the plan is to keep them that way. So there are Female Troops and Male Troops. They might do activities together but they are separate Troops and Patrols.

not anymore. my kid's boy scout troop has "family scouting." there are girls in his troop. when my daughter gets older, we'll probably just sign her up for family scouting. it's easier for us logistically and honestly, the activities the boy scouts do are often more interesting that the girl scout activities (the stupid cookie selling and family budgeting unit at least.)

If the Council finds out that there are girls in a boys Troop there is likely to be some action taken. Girls and Boys are suppose to be in different Troops. Mixed dens at the Cub Scout level is frowned upon but seems to be ok, because of the age of the kids. We were specifically told that once there are 4 girls of the same age, we were suppose to create a girls den.

Girls are suppose to have their own Troops and their own Patrols. There is an acknowledgement that it will be easier, in the beginning, for female and male troops to hold events together but girls are suppose to have their own camp site totally independent of the boys. I am on my sons Pack Committee and attend the Round tables and the like. While there are Troops that are trying to work around the gender segregation, it is not something that the Local Councils and National are trying to allow. It could very well be that your family is in a Troop that has a Female and Male Troop but are holding events together. Or at least, that is the way they are presenting it to the Council and National.

I agree that the activities for Scouting BSA are attractive to girls, it is the reason that female troops were created last year. But there are suppose to be gender specific troops.

And yes, I am aware that females were also allowed because Scouting BSA is worried about declining numbers with the Mormon Church departing the organization wholesale. But there were a lot of girls going with their brothers to Cub Scout activities who were enjoying them and wanting to join Scouting BSA.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Dorky is good.

+1

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Past elementary school, absolutely.

I'm a MS teacher and I wish more parents would MAKE their kids conform and be like the masses. There's plenty of time to be an individual after age 18. Until then, those are the most important formative years and it hurts me so much to see or hear about a kid being teased for being different. Of course, teaching tolerance is also very important. If I have to contact a parent about their child being a bully more than once, I seriously look down on that person as a parent. Once, eh, kids can have bad days and be little sh!ts. But twice or three times? Nope, that's on you, mom & dad - you're raising terrible offspring.

Examples I'm talking about when I say conforming: 6th grade boys NOT walking the halls with cartoon/superhero character lunchboxes or backpacks. Sixth grade girls not wearing unicorns or other clothes that look like they came from Justice. Not dressing your son like a mini accountant or your daughter like the female offspring of a political family.

I have a hard time believing you think teaching tolerance is important when the rest of your post is about making kids walk a very specific line. If a kid CAN'T conform because of skin color or religious beliefs, how do you expect kids to tolerate that when according to you they need not tolerate anything smaller like not having the latest backpack or clothing?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Past elementary school, absolutely.

I'm a MS teacher and I wish more parents would MAKE their kids conform and be like the masses. There's plenty of time to be an individual after age 18. Until then, those are the most important formative years and it hurts me so much to see or hear about a kid being teased for being different. Of course, teaching tolerance is also very important. If I have to contact a parent about their child being a bully more than once, I seriously look down on that person as a parent. Once, eh, kids can have bad days and be little sh!ts. But twice or three times? Nope, that's on you, mom & dad - you're raising terrible offspring.

Examples I'm talking about when I say conforming: 6th grade boys NOT walking the halls with cartoon/superhero character lunchboxes or backpacks. Sixth grade girls not wearing unicorns or other clothes that look like they came from Justice. Not dressing your son like a mini accountant or your daughter like the female offspring of a political family.

I feel bad for the children in your class. You are an awful teacher.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Past elementary school, absolutely.

I'm a MS teacher and I wish more parents would MAKE their kids conform and be like the masses. There's plenty of time to be an individual after age 18. Until then, those are the most important formative years and it hurts me so much to see or hear about a kid being teased for being different. Of course, teaching tolerance is also very important. If I have to contact a parent about their child being a bully more than once, I seriously look down on that person as a parent. Once, eh, kids can have bad days and be little sh!ts. But twice or three times? Nope, that's on you, mom & dad - you're raising terrible offspring.

Examples I'm talking about when I say conforming: 6th grade boys NOT walking the halls with cartoon/superhero character lunchboxes or backpacks. Sixth grade girls not wearing unicorns or other clothes that look like they came from Justice. Not dressing your son like a mini accountant or your daughter like the female offspring of a political family.

I have a hard time believing you think teaching tolerance is important when the rest of your post is about making kids walk a very specific line. If a kid CAN'T conform because of skin color or religious beliefs, how do you expect kids to tolerate that when according to you they need not tolerate anything smaller like not having the latest backpack or clothing?

+1

What a horrible teacher!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Past elementary school, absolutely.

I'm a MS teacher and I wish more parents would MAKE their kids conform and be like the masses. There's plenty of time to be an individual after age 18. Until then, those are the most important formative years and it hurts me so much to see or hear about a kid being teased for being different. Of course, teaching tolerance is also very important. If I have to contact a parent about their child being a bully more than once, I seriously look down on that person as a parent. Once, eh, kids can have bad days and be little sh!ts. But twice or three times? Nope, that's on you, mom & dad - you're raising terrible offspring.

Examples I'm talking about when I say conforming: 6th grade boys NOT walking the halls with cartoon/superhero character lunchboxes or backpacks. Sixth grade girls not wearing unicorns or other clothes that look like they came from Justice. Not dressing your son like a mini accountant or your daughter like the female offspring of a political family.

OR, parents could teach their kids not to be jerks to other kids. Then maybe they'd all grow up to be nicer and better-adjusted adults, and the world would be a better place altogether.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Past elementary school, absolutely.

I'm a MS teacher and I wish more parents would MAKE their kids conform and be like the masses. There's plenty of time to be an individual after age 18. Until then, those are the most important formative years and it hurts me so much to see or hear about a kid being teased for being different. Of course, teaching tolerance is also very important. If I have to contact a parent about their child being a bully more than once, I seriously look down on that person as a parent. Once, eh, kids can have bad days and be little sh!ts. But twice or three times? Nope, that's on you, mom & dad - you're raising terrible offspring.

Examples I'm talking about when I say conforming: 6th grade boys NOT walking the halls with cartoon/superhero character lunchboxes or backpacks. Sixth grade girls not wearing unicorns or other clothes that look like they came from Justice. Not dressing your son like a mini accountant or your daughter like the female offspring of a political family.

I'm confused about what this means for scouting. Are you suggesting that parents should force kids to quit scouting, even if they like it, in order to "conform"? Sorry, but that's absurd. Perhaps there should be more focus on celebrating all different kinds of interests, or even promoting some of the cool stuff that happens in scouts? Or even just letting kids find their own tribe, and teach everyone to let others be?

When I was in high school, anything remotely related to computers, programming, or robots was considered dorky. Now robotics are all the rage. These things go through cycles. Why should we force kids to suppress their personalities and interests for the sake of trends in what's considered "cool"?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I think so, unfortunately. My 9 year old still likes it, but my 11 year old (who desperately wants to be 'cool') would never join. If only kids would realize that what is considered dorky when you are under 18 often turns out to make you much more attractive and accomplished as an adult. But I guess that short-sightedness is what makes a kid a kid.

Yep. I knew a few kids who went on to be Eagle Scouts, and are very successful. Growing up in the urban ‘hood, it was a great way to get into nature. I lost touch with them, but well into adulthood, they were involved in helping the needy and neighborhood. I was never a scout and neither are my kids, but big, did those guys make an impression.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Past elementary school, absolutely.

I'm a MS teacher and I wish more parents would MAKE their kids conform and be like the masses. There's plenty of time to be an individual after age 18. Until then, those are the most important formative years and it hurts me so much to see or hear about a kid being teased for being different. Of course, teaching tolerance is also very important. If I have to contact a parent about their child being a bully more than once, I seriously look down on that person as a parent. Once, eh, kids can have bad days and be little sh!ts. But twice or three times? Nope, that's on you, mom & dad - you're raising terrible offspring.

Examples I'm talking about when I say conforming: 6th grade boys NOT walking the halls with cartoon/superhero character lunchboxes or backpacks. Sixth grade girls not wearing unicorns or other clothes that look like they came from Justice. Not dressing your son like a mini accountant or your daughter like the female offspring of a political family.

OR, parents could teach their kids not to be jerks to other kids. Then maybe they'd all grow up to be nicer and better-adjusted adults, and the world would be a better place altogether.

NP, meanwhile the kids that are not taught that are bullying the kids with the superhero shirts. Not saying I agree with the teacher but I do see her point.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Past elementary school, absolutely.

I'm a MS teacher and I wish more parents would MAKE their kids conform and be like the masses. There's plenty of time to be an individual after age 18. Until then, those are the most important formative years and it hurts me so much to see or hear about a kid being teased for being different. Of course, teaching tolerance is also very important. If I have to contact a parent about their child being a bully more than once, I seriously look down on that person as a parent. Once, eh, kids can have bad days and be little sh!ts. But twice or three times? Nope, that's on you, mom & dad - you're raising terrible offspring.

Examples I'm talking about when I say conforming: 6th grade boys NOT walking the halls with cartoon/superhero character lunchboxes or backpacks. Sixth grade girls not wearing unicorns or other clothes that look like they came from Justice. Not dressing your son like a mini accountant or your daughter like the female offspring of a political family.

I have a hard time believing you think teaching tolerance is important when the rest of your post is about making kids walk a very specific line. If a kid CAN'T conform because of skin color or religious beliefs, how do you expect kids to tolerate that when according to you they need not tolerate anything smaller like not having the latest backpack or clothing?

+1

What a horrible teacher!

I am a teacher and I am also appalled at this poster. I hope he or she does not teach in my building! While I make every effort to connect with all of my students, I always seem to connect best with the students who do NOT strive to fit in and be like everybody else, because I too was an outcast in middle school and high school. Also, not going with the crowd is a trait that will serve these students very well in the future, as they will not be afraid to do the right thing and stand up for what is right. Teachers need to create an accepting environment in their classroom for all of their students. If they are not willing to do that, they should find another profession. I hear Trump is looking for people!