In Progress
Unfortunately, the name ‘Boy Scouts’ propagates the perceptions America's youth have of our programs as ‘uncool'. Because of a name, kids struggle to look past current stereotypes to the true scouting experiences (knives, backpacking, canoeing, leadership, etc.). Being called a boy was probably acceptable in 1910, but in today’s world where junior high pregnancies, school violence, etc. are issues facing our youth, being associated with anything referring to you as a ‘boy’ is demeaning. Few 6th graders want to be referred to as a ‘boy’ scout when their peers are already delving into the adult world. This becomes even more humiliating for our kids at the high school level. We cannot forget that the adolescent wants to be accepted, and for many, being called a 'boy scout' by their friends is a barrier to acceptance (not because of the program but the name).
Yes, I realize the costs and sentiment attached to keeping the current name, but the name of a ‘program’ should not be a deterrent to fulfilling our mission to instill in our young people the values of the Scout Oath and Law. I suggest changing the program name to something that will make kids proud to be a part of our programs. The brand and name of our scouting program should match the unparalleled experiences scouting offers, enticing youth of all ages, which is something any reluctant to change volunteer or alumni should be able to appreciate.
Vote Up
Vote Down
Post New Comment
Close