Jump to content

Menu
Giving You and Your Child a Road Map to the Best Possible Education
The Well-Trained Mind Community

JWSJ

Members
 View Profile  See their activity

  • Posts

    533

  • Joined

  • Last visited

 Content Type 

Posts posted by JWSJ

    Science equivalents to SOTW

    in K-8 Curriculum Board

    Posted

    This is related: we have used The History of Science with success. It's a literature-based study (with all the related books, cassettes, etc. listed in the front). The first time I got it, I didn't realize what a literature-based program even was, so be sure to get the resources for those types of programs! Anyway, we have enjoyed it.

    blessings,

    Nancy.

     

    A search yields confusing results.

     

    Can you point me to the content?

    Link to Obama's Speech

    in General Education Discussion Board

    Posted

    I think it's a well-written speech for an education with an alternative format (homeschooling, for example), but doesn't apply to these kids who are actually in institutionalized schools.

     

    I had similar thoughts. I also see no mention of homeschooling in the speech. Aren't what homeschoolers (both parents and students) doing (taking responsibility) exactly what the President is talking about?

     

    Why no mention of the people who are doing exactly what he is promoting?

    Furious! (and a Cub Scout question)

    in General Education Discussion Board

    Posted

    I checked with our district and this is perfectly legal and legit.

     

    It is NOT BSA policy.

     

    See:

     

    http://www.scouting.org/filestore/pdf/28-406.pdf

     

    Highlights:

     

    Chartered organizations agree to use the Scouting program in accordance with their own policies as well as those of the BSA. The program is flexible, but major departures from BSA methods and policies are not permitted. As a parent, you should be aware that

     

    • The Boy Scouts of America recognizes the importance of religious faith and duty; it leaves sectarian religious instruction to the member’s religious leaders and family.

    • Members who do not belong to a unit’s religious chartered organization shall not be required to participate in its religious activities.

     

     

    While I think you are well within your rights to call district and find out the rules I would be a little cautious of how much fuss you make. Scouting is a small community.

     

    Also not true - Scouting is huge. And a BSA rep with knowledge of how a correct pack/troop is run would be understanding of the situation.

    Furious! (and a Cub Scout question)

    in General Education Discussion Board

    Posted

    I will have to check my leader's manual to be sure, but my recollection is that a pack or troop is not supposed to restrict membership to only a certain religion.

     

    A pack or troop is chartered by a specific group. Often the group is associated with a church or other religious group. As such, the charter organization has the responsibility to sign off on any adult leaders and can set some requirements for them. For example, they could require the scoutmaster to be a member of the charter org.

     

    However, packs and troops are not allowed to mandate participation in specific religious ceremonies by the scouts. For example, they couldn't say that every scout is required to attend Scout Sunday services. They can say that there will be a Scout Sunday observance at the chartering church and that all the scouts are invited, even if they aren't members of that church.

     

    I think that the scenario presented by OP is a violation of the terms under which BSA grants charters to organizations. I would bring it up with both the district executive and with the council executive.

     

    I think that it is great that religious orgs charter units. I would love to be in a unit that fostered more of our family's faith along with out scouting. But to require a denominational check before allowing a scout to join runs counter to the mission of scouting (and in my opinion runs against one of the reasons why religious orgs want to have units in the first place.)

     

    I have been involved in Scouting for 30 years and this is my understanding as well.

     

    Not that I haven't encountered Dens, Packs, and Troops that made it known that they were only interested in a specific faith. But, that is NOT official BSA policy and runs counter to the BSA's goals.

     

    If I encountered a Den/Pack/Troop that had a policy like the OP mentioned our family would not join it (and I'd probably report it to BSA org too).

×
×
  • Create New...