by Ruth Georgia

Created on: October 26, 2007

I am not entirely sure that I should right this article but as a former Girl Scout Staff Member, I feel that I need to clear up a few things. Girl Scout Leaders are in NO instances told what they have present at any troop meeting of any although they are often told of topics that should be avoided. They are taught to avoid topics that are age inappropriate. Girl Scouts is committed to helping girls to grow strong and to build girls of courage, confidence, and character who make the world a better place. The new program model is based on girl leadership. We strive to include every girl every where who wishes to participate. Yes we are open to teen mothers being Girl Scouts if that is something they want to do. We offer nontraditional programming in homes for teen mothers. No we do not encourage teen pregnancy. We have traditional and non traditional troops. We offer programs such as anti drug campaigns, Baby Think It Over (a program in which we provide TEEN girls with dolls programmed to act like babies, in order to teach them what motherhood would be like, not how to become a mother, our cookie sale (which happens to be the number one business literacy program in the nation), traditional camping, earned badges (girls still need to learn to earn things), and even religious badges that can be earned by troops or individual girls in their own religion. We are changing to keep up with the times, to keep girls interested and to teach lessons that are valuable to girls today. The power to make their own decisions and the courage to stand up for what they believe in. Now for the facts behind the soap box. Any program, be it Studio 2B or a traditional badge earning activity is voluntary. If a parent is uncomfortable with the teachings of a troop leader then they are encouraged to take their concerns to the Membership Department at their local council.

If teaching girls to have courage, confidence and character is a liberal agenda then I am a liberal and a lot of otherwise conservative people are as well.

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