From the Intelligencer.
Scouts forced to stop school recruitment
By THERESA HEGEL
The Intelligencer
In past years, signing up for Scouting has been a relatively simple process for Pennridge families.
All they had to do was show up at back-to-school night in September, and they'd find tables in the lobby devoted to both Boy Scouts and Girl Scouts.
This year, however, those informational tables will no longer be a fixture in the district.
The decision came after a religious group threatened Pennridge with a lawsuit for not allowing both secular and spiritual organizations to stump for members.
The district is not ready to open the lobby to every group that wants a table, Superintendent Robert Kish said. And, according to their attorney, that's exactly what they'd have to do.
“It would be a matter of who you say no to,” he said.
Restricting back-to-school tables to school-affiliated groups, such as parent-teacher organizations, keeps the district on solid legal ground.
“Litigation is expensive,” Kish said. “It's sad, but unfortunately, it's the way things are these days.”
A group of parents involved in the Boy Scouts showed up at Tuesday's special board meeting to question the decision.
Bill Sherman of Perkasie said he understands where the district is coming from, though he doesn't necessarily agree with its decision. His 11-year-old son, who is home-schooled, advanced into Boy Scouts in the spring after several years as a Cub Scout.
“Scouting has been shown to be such a great organization for giving boys a leg up on leadership and values,” Sherman said. “Why wouldn't anyone want to make that available to as many kids as possible?”
Kish, however, has nothing but respect for Scouting.
“We've had a good working relationship with the Scouts for a long time,” he said. “I'm sure we're going to continue that.”
Offering them a space at back-to-school night “is just one of those things we're not going to be able to do,” he said.
Most of the district's open houses are clustered in the second week of September. The evening events consist of a brief orientation and a chance for parents to meet their children's new teachers, Kish said.
Pennridge has had troubles on the religious front before.
Last year, a group of parents was upset that a song was removed from an elementary Christmas concert for being too overtly Christian.
One of the mothers involved contacted an attorney, though she said she had no intention of suing.
In 2001, the district was sued by a graduate of Pennridge High School after he was temporarily prevented from distributing a flier in school that questioned the district's policy on the evolution vs. creationism debate.
Monday, September 1, 2008
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6 comments:
Next we will have to remove the student desks because the label that reads, "Made in America".
So it is ok to have things for the Parent - Teacher (Association) but NOTHING for the Students - Community (Associations - AYSO, Scouting, Baseball, YMCA).
hmmm am I missing something?
The Boy Scout motto is "be prepared", so I suppose they should be prepared to do their recruiting elsewhere. Chalk up another casualty in the "culture wars".
Be prepared, that's the Boy Scout's marching song
Be prepared, as through life you march along
Be prepared to hold your liquor pretty well
Don't write naughty words on walls if you can't spell
Be prepared to hide that pack of cigarettes
Don't make book if you cannot cover bets
Keep those reefers hidden where you're sure that they will not be found
And be careful not to smoke them when the scoutmaster's around
For he only will insist that they be shared
Be prepared
Be prepared, that's the Boy Scouts' solemn creed
Be prepared, and be clean in word and deed
Don't solicit for your sister, that's not nice
Unless you get a good percentage of her price
Be prepared, and be careful not to do
Your good deeds when there's no one watching you
If you're looking for adventure of a new and different kind
And you come across a Girl Scout who is similarly inclined
Don't be nervous, don't be flustered, don't be scared,
Be prepared
Actually, a reasonable board would have allowed any civic group to put up a table, instead of prohibiting the scouts.
"The district is not ready to open the lobby to every group that wants a table, Superintendent Robert Kish said."
I mean, why even say no. If it is a group designed to engage kids and provide new opportunities, why would you awnt to say no?
Borows - In theory I agree, but if you let the scouts have a table, you have to let the Satanists have one too, along with the Scientologists and every other quasi civic or religious group. Doesn't seem like such a good idea anymore does it?
To Anon Satanist,
That is rather extreme.
However, assuming the Satanists and the Scientologists, and the YMCA and the Morrisville Little League all had publicly available programs designed for students, then why shouldn't they have a table at back to school night.
Certainly a parent attending (and we all know how desperately few those are) would have the good sense to avoid the YMCA table if she felt that the YMCA provided programs she would rather not have her child be involved in.
The inclusion of a few groups that you do not support is far better than the exclusion of all opportunities our children could take advantage of.
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