Common Misconceptions Others Have on the BSA?

[Drastent]

As someone who has been involved in the program for almost my entire life, I am admittedly pretty ignorant to these sort of things. But what are some misconceptions that you all have heard that people seem to think about the program as a whole or the people involved in it?

Edited September 20, 2018 by Drastent

[qwazse]

It's called Boy Scouts for a reason ...

Well, the "reason" is to stand in contrast to military scouts -- to use the same skills but towards peaceful ends.

This is quite the opposite of some folks' impression, who think our net effect is to fuel the gears of war.

[Eagle1993]

Scout leaders (Troop and Pack) are paid professionals.  I was shocked by that one and heard it more than once.

 

 

[Treflienne]

That Boy Scouts and Girl Scouts are part of the same organization, not two different organizations.  (I've been hearing that for years.)

[ianwilkins]

Gosh! Is scouts still going?

[Cambridgeskip]

They don’t understand that the adults are there to, as much as possible, facilitate the scouts in making their own decisions and leading and running the program as much as they can. They seem to think that we are there to do everything!

[scoutldr]

12 hours ago, Eagle1993 said:

Scout leaders (Troop and Pack) are paid professionals.  I was shocked by that one and heard it more than once.

 

 

LOL..reminds me of the time when I was Cubmaster and a parent called to demand to know when meetings were going to start.  I said, "as soon as you volunteer to become a Den Leader"...she got furious and demanded to speak to my "supervisor"...so I handed the phone to my wife.

[Saltface]

That BSA is a government program or directly funded by tax dollars (which can be true in some ways, I suppose).

And that “religion has no place in scouts.”

Edited September 21, 2018 by Saltface

[gblotter]

The common misconception is that BSA is an altruistic organization composed of selfless volunteers with the mission of building boys into men of character.

The reality is that BSA is a corporation driven by corporate motives. Money - not altruism - drives BSA, just like any corporation. While many BSA volunteers may indeed be selfless, BSA corporate leaders largely ignore and dismiss the opinions of front-line volunteers in decision-making.

Edited September 21, 2018 by gblotter

[an_old_DC]

Units are autonomous and can do what they want: entire packs can go canoeing, unrelated girls and girl siblings can completely mix with boy dens for all activities and even "unofficially" earn advancement, etc. Troops can make up their own advancement policies including when or if a Scout can have a conference with his SM, BORs retesting Scouts and then denying advancement, having SM, CC and other adults' daughters tagalong on camping trips and "unofficially" earn advancement. The list goes on and on.

Another good one is that district and council volunteers are paid employees. So as a District Commissioner, it doesn't matter how many phone calls, emails and meetings it takes with a unit to help them sort out problems, because "that's what you get paid for."

[ianwilkins]

In the UK: You have girl scouts now?

[tries hard not to roll eyes] Yes, only for the last 20 years or so (or 40 years for Ventures)

 

[TMSM]

2 hours ago, ianwilkins said:

In the UK: You have girl scouts now?

[tries hard not to roll eyes] Yes, only for the last 20 years or so (or 40 years for Ventures)

 

I didnt realize Scouts in UK is just 10 - 14 yrs then they move on to Exploreres

[SSF]

4 hours ago, an_old_DC said:

Units are autonomous and can do what they want: entire packs can go canoeing, unrelated girls and girl siblings can completely mix with boy dens for all activities and even "unofficially" earn advancement, etc. Troops can make up their own advancement policies including when or if a Scout can have a conference with his SM, BORs retesting Scouts and then denying advancement, having SM, CC and other adults' daughters tagalong on camping trips and "unofficially" earn advancement. The list goes on and on.

 

I'm waiting to hear about the troop that has decided to add an additional rank somewhere,...Third Class between TF and 2C, it's probably happened

[SSF]

That the BSA is a public organization. It's not. It's a private organization that can (unfortunately) pretty much do whatever it wants without any real accountability. Many injustices have been committed under the 'private organization' provision.

My favorite quote from a council executive:

"Well, as long as they (referring to an SM and CC) haven't done anything illegal, there's nothing we can do about it"

Reassuring to know that the BSA's standard for registered leaders is "just don't actually violate the law"...but otherwise it's okay to be as unethical, as unscrupulous and as nasty as they want to be to scouts ans their families

Edited September 21, 2018 by SSF

[SSScout]

Things this Commisher has heard and discussed......

"We can't join Scouts, we're not Christian". 

"We won't  join Boy Scouts, they're  not Christian." 

" Boy Scouts is too expensive, Johnny can't afford to go to summer camp " (they say with Disneyworld stickers all over their car). 

"" What do you mean we can't (hold a rifle target shoot, go hunting,  cut down the trees in the park,  hold a raffle,  drop our kid off and come back in five days without previously registering....)…..  ""

Edited September 25, 2018 by SSScout