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

[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 absolutely is a boys' program that is like Girls on the Run. It's called "Let them Run." You should ask about organizing it at your school.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

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 absolutely is a boys' program that is like Girls on the Run. It's called "Let them Run." You should ask about organizing it at your school.

Sorry. The name of the program is "Let Me Run." It's about the same price. It has a boy-centered curriculum.

http://letmerun.org/

[Anonymous]

Our Silver Spring ES just started a running club, and the kids will be running in the Kids on the Run race in Gaithersburg. Sounds like unisex version?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

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 absolutely is a boys' program that is like Girls on the Run. It's called "Let them Run." You should ask about organizing it at your school.

Sorry. The name of the program is "Let Me Run." It's about the same price. It has a boy-centered curriculum.

http://letmerun.org/

Glad to hear there is another program, but I agree with the PP - any school that has a girls-only activity should be required to offer similar opportunities to boys. My son's MoCo elementary has almost no afterschool sports... One of the only exceptions is GOTR. That is lovely for girls (who btw are already the beneficiaries of a system that is stacked toward girls in the early years), but unfair to boys. I suspect if someone tried to organize an activity that was off limits to girls, it would never be permitted to operate in public schools.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote: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.

I don't know where you are but if all your daughter did was run, then her coaches were absolutely not executing the GOTR curriculum appropriately. Every session is based around a topic, and typically would include some sort of activity and discussion in addition to the running portion of the day. GOTR is not a track program, its mission statement is "We inspire girls to be joyful, healthy and confident using a fun, experience-based curriculum which creatively integrates running." Notice that, despite the name, running is simply one component of a more holisitic curriculum geared specifically towards the needs and challenges of pre-adolescent girls.

As for the question of "where is the money going", here are the links to the Guidestar pages for GOTR NoVA, GOTR DC and GOTR Montgomery County, each of which includes their detailed 990s.

http://www.guidestar.org/organizations/20-5531978/girls-run-montgomerycounty.aspx
http://www.guidestar.org/organizations/54-2026885/girls-run-nova.aspx
http://www.guidestar.org/organizations/74-3218001/girls-run-dc.aspx

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

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 absolutely is a boys' program that is like Girls on the Run. It's called "Let them Run." You should ask about organizing it at your school.

Sorry. The name of the program is "Let Me Run." It's about the same price. It has a boy-centered curriculum.

http://letmerun.org/

Glad to hear there is another program, but I agree with the PP - any school that has a girls-only activity should be required to offer similar opportunities to boys. My son's MoCo elementary has almost no afterschool sports... One of the only exceptions is GOTR. That is lovely for girls (who btw are already the beneficiaries of a system that is stacked toward girls in the early years), but unfair to boys. I suspect if someone tried to organize an activity that was off limits to girls, it would never be permitted to operate in public schools.

If the school doesn't have any sports for boys, but sponsors running for girls it is unfair. My suggestion was intended to be a gentle nudge for y'all to get off your butts and 1) talk to the school about organizing a boys' program and 2) maybe volunteer.

Nothing changes if you just sit around

[Anonymous]

Umm, schools have offered boys only sports opportunities for decades. To the extent that a law had to be passed to create equal opportunities for girls (and even that hasn't fixed the problem). And you mothers of boys are complaining about ONE girl specific program? Open your eyes.

[Anonymous]

Our school offers both GOTR and Guys on the Go. Don't know if that was created by someone at our school to complement GOTR or if it is a wider program....

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

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 absolutely is a boys' program that is like Girls on the Run. It's called "Let them Run." You should ask about organizing it at your school.

Sorry. The name of the program is "Let Me Run." It's about the same price. It has a boy-centered curriculum.

http://letmerun.org/

Glad to hear there is another program, but I agree with the PP - any school that has a girls-only activity should be required to offer similar opportunities to boys. My son's MoCo elementary has almost no afterschool sports... One of the only exceptions is GOTR. That is lovely for girls (who btw are already the beneficiaries of a system that is stacked toward girls in the early years), but unfair to boys. I suspect if someone tried to organize an activity that was off limits to girls, it would never be permitted to operate in public schools.

So call up your school and volunteer to lead it. The school is not offering GOTR the PTA is.

Signed parent of a boy

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Umm, schools have offered boys only sports opportunities for decades. To the extent that a law had to be passed to create equal opportunities for girls (and even that hasn't fixed the problem). And you mothers of boys are complaining about ONE girl specific program? Open your eyes.

+1

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Well from a quick glance it looks like 24 classes are included - that curriculum had to be developed and created. Program support costs surely exist. Also, financial aid is available for kids who can't pay their own way - i am sure some of the fee goes to support that.

If you were really concerned about this, why wouldnt you reach out to the org directly to ask about the fee and where it goes? Seems very childish to instead come on a message board and try to instigate negative views towards a nonprofit with a good mission, without having looked into it at all.

Hey, pp: Knock it off. You gave a perfectly good, reasoned response, and then you closed with an ad-hominem attack. You must really not have absorbed all those lessons that are espoused in this fabulous program, I guess. You know the ones about critical thinking to respond to bullying, the soul and spiritual development, etc. If people associated with GOTR for five years resort to personal attacks and name-calling, I really don't have a lot of faith in the organization now.

[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.?

Programs like this correct the gross historical distortions between the treatment of boys and girls in educational institutions. I'm surprised you don't understand that. The "boys are in it" is a default. Your question is like asking why there isn't affirmative action for white people. It's really offensive.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Well from a quick glance it looks like 24 classes are included - that curriculum had to be developed and created. Program support costs surely exist. Also, financial aid is available for kids who can't pay their own way - i am sure some of the fee goes to support that.

If you were really concerned about this, why wouldnt you reach out to the org directly to ask about the fee and where it goes? Seems very childish to instead come on a message board and try to instigate negative views towards a nonprofit with a good mission, without having looked into it at all.

Hey, pp: Knock it off. You gave a perfectly good, reasoned response, and then you closed with an ad-hominem attack. You must really not have absorbed all those lessons that are espoused in this fabulous program, I guess. You know the ones about critical thinking to respond to bullying, the soul and spiritual development, etc. If people associated with GOTR for five years resort to personal attacks and name-calling, I really don't have a lot of faith in the organization now.

FWIW, I'm a multiple PP who has been involved with GOTR for over 5yrs. The above response was most definitely not mine.

[Anonymous]

My daughters' school has a "Kids on the Run" program. I always assumed it was affiliated with Girls on the Run, is this incorrect?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Well from a quick glance it looks like 24 classes are included - that curriculum had to be developed and created. Program support costs surely exist. Also, financial aid is available for kids who can't pay their own way - i am sure some of the fee goes to support that.

If you were really concerned about this, why wouldnt you reach out to the org directly to ask about the fee and where it goes? Seems very childish to instead come on a message board and try to instigate negative views towards a nonprofit with a good mission, without having looked into it at all.

Hey, pp: Knock it off. You gave a perfectly good, reasoned response, and then you closed with an ad-hominem attack. You must really not have absorbed all those lessons that are espoused in this fabulous program, I guess. You know the ones about critical thinking to respond to bullying, the soul and spiritual development, etc. If people associated with GOTR for five years resort to personal attacks and name-calling, I really don't have a lot of faith in the organization now.

FWIW, I'm a multiple PP who has been involved with GOTR for over 5yrs. The above response was most definitely not mine.

Sorry for the confusion.