educational activities
Joylyn
I'm speaking tomorrow at a homeschool conference, on using scouting in
homeschooling. I completed a handout, (i'll copy and paste it below,
maybe you all can tell me how stupid is,c orrect spelling,e tc.) and I
printed it and handed it to Lexie to read. I had been reading partsof it
to my mom on the hpone so Lexie said "I don't need to read it, I heard
you reading it on the phone." I said "consider it your edcatuional
activity for the day." She said "mom, we don't do educational activities
for the day. Our educational activity is THE DAY."
:-) Lexie is so teaching me about life learning.
Joylyn
HOMESCHOOLING AND GIRL SCOUTING
Joylyn Fowler
joylyn@...
Bio: Four years in Girl Scouts as a girl, three years in GS as an adult,
with the last two as a leader. I am currently a leader in a multi level
troop (Brownies and Juniors) with three other leaders. We unschooling
our two daughters, ages 4 and 8.
Augmentation of a Homeschooling Program through Girl Scouts
Reading: Girls must read in order to complete badges, but the reading
can go so much further. My girls have had to read to memorize various
items, including songs, the promise and law, and their parts in
different plays. We also read the story of Girl Scouts, and Juliet Low,
the Founder. The girls are also required to read the rules for product
sales, and of course, the incentives they can earn by selling the
products. Girls must decide how to spend the money earned by the product
sales, and in doing so often do research. The older the GS the more
reading is necessary. We learn to read best by reading those things that
are important to us, and those things for which we can see practical
value. Girls usually enjoy scouts and therefore the reading is valuable
to them. In some cases, the reading might be a bit above their comfort
level, but because they are motivated to read, reading happens, and
skills develop.
Writing: There are constant opportunities for writing. The girls in my
troop have written the following: thank you notes, posters for product
sales, invitations to various ceremonies, letters for many occasions
(including one to the President), and more. As the girls get older, GS
encourages the girls to write notes to people who have purchased
cookies. Again, as with reading, the writing within GS is usually
meaningful, practical and useful
Math: The math opportunities are endless. Product sales provide lots of
opportunities for mathboth in handling money and figuring out how many
more boxes of cookies you need to sell in order to reach your personal
goal. Dues are also vital and the youngest of scouts can be responsible
for paying their own dues. As the girls get older, they take an active
role in troop finances. They decide how to spend the money, and budget
the various trips, activities, and service projects as a troop. At the
Senior level, they actually take over the troop checking account, along
with their adult advisor. There are math badges at all levels, as well.
Science: There are many science badges, at all levels. The founder of
girl scouts and the current folks who write GS badges must realize how
important science (and math) is (are) to girls. Girl Scouts also
provides a wonderful setting (all girls, nothing but girls) for the
learning of science (and math). Ecology and the natural environment is
stressed, as is nutrition, health, hygiene, smoking and drug education,
and more. The health sciences are covered as well.
History/Social Studies: Social Studies is very much in evident in the
girl scout program. Girls learn about the history of girl scouts, and
women. There are badges which address this subject as well.
Physical Education: There are badges at all levels that are geared
toward physical activities. Girls learn all about basic sports, but the
GS program goes further, encouraging a great deal of physical
activities, including horseback riding, boating, camping, skiing,
swimming, hiking, backpacking, no facilities camping (ie, out door
toilets), etc. The girls are taught the skills they need in order to
take on very active roles in the camping experience, doing the majority
of the cooking, cleaning, setting up of camp, and tearing down
themselves. Camping is vital to the GS program, although many leaders
wait until the Junior level to camp. Each girl is encouraged to learn
self defense including how to avoid dangerous situation and how to
protect themselves.
Music: No GS program is complete without music. Campfire songs and fun
songs, songs to sing on car trips to various outings, and songs to sing
when meetings are opening and meetings are closing, songs from different
cultures, and songs from the pastGS meetings are not complete without
the girls singing at least a few songs!
Arts and Crafts: This is my favorite. As a GS leader, I can plan
wonderful projects for the girls to do that I might not do in my own
home. We have painted, drawn with markers, crayons, pencils, and more.
Weve weaved, sewn, tie dyed, t-shirt painting, made mobiles and
collages, gift baskets and ghosts out of tissue and lollypops. My girls
have made cards for all occasions, sock puppets, and made presents for
service projects (the nursing home and the homeless).
Service Projects: Service Projects are a vital part of the GS program.
Service projects help girls to learn how they, as a single person or a
group of girls, can have an effect upon this world. My girls have done
the following projects: feeding the homeless, giving cookies from our
troop to the homeless, performed at nursing homes and retirement
communities, made tray decorations for Meals on Wheels, collected food
for a food bank, collected food, baby items, etc. for a pregnant mom in
need, collected toys and food and other items for a family in need
(adopted that family for Christmas), given gifts to various community
members at appropriate times (new baby, marriage, etc.), picked up trash
in a park, etc. Service projects can be endless, and should be something
that is stressed in the GS troop. The older the girls, the more
intricate the projects can be. Older girls can also be more involved in
the planning process and implementation.
Responsibility: GS teaches girls to be responsible, because as the girls
grow older, the take on every increasingly difficult tasks in the
management of the troop, with the adults being trained to step back and
become advisors.
Spiritual Training: Girl Scouts are not required to believe in God or a
higher power, as personal beliefs are not only respected but diversity
is valued in the program. Girls can omit any part of the GS promise or
law, as fits their personal belief system. The diverse environment helps
girls to see that there are many types of folks in this world, and that
learning to get along with lots of different people and their
differences, is valuable. Girls promise to be a sister to every scout,
regardless of race, religion, or any other category.
Patriotism: The GS allows girls, if it does not interfere with her
personal belief system, to learn to be a good citizen for her country.
Girl Scouts is in almost all Countries in the world, and the GS
organization wants each girl to support her own country, and be a good
citizen for that country. Flag ceremonies, saying of the pledge and
other forms of patriotism are encouraged but at not time is any girl
forced to participate in anything that makes her uncomfortably or goes
against her beliefs. This is good for ALL girls, allowing them to see
that people can do things a bit differently and still be Girl Scouts.
The S wordSocial Skills: Girl Scouts is a great place for girls to be
with girls, to make friends, especially with friends who otherwise they
might not get to meet. We do not allow, in our troop, cliques or
groupsall the girls work with all the girls. The younger are helped by
the older, good friends can sometimes work with each other and at other
times, the girls know they need to learn to get along with and work with
people who are not their best friend. Our troop is a very supportive
one, with an environment where the girls are encouraging and loving to
each other. The social skills learned in a good GS troop are positive
and valuable.
FUN! This is probably the most important part of the GS program. This is
a time for girls to come together and be with friends, to sing songs, to
paint or draw, to complete badges and help our neighbors. As serious as
I take the GS program, as part of our lives and part of our educational
plan for our daughters, I never forget that fun is so important. We
laugh and hug and really love to be with each other, and that is what GS
is all about!
homeschooling. I completed a handout, (i'll copy and paste it below,
maybe you all can tell me how stupid is,c orrect spelling,e tc.) and I
printed it and handed it to Lexie to read. I had been reading partsof it
to my mom on the hpone so Lexie said "I don't need to read it, I heard
you reading it on the phone." I said "consider it your edcatuional
activity for the day." She said "mom, we don't do educational activities
for the day. Our educational activity is THE DAY."
:-) Lexie is so teaching me about life learning.
Joylyn
HOMESCHOOLING AND GIRL SCOUTING
Joylyn Fowler
joylyn@...
Bio: Four years in Girl Scouts as a girl, three years in GS as an adult,
with the last two as a leader. I am currently a leader in a multi level
troop (Brownies and Juniors) with three other leaders. We unschooling
our two daughters, ages 4 and 8.
Augmentation of a Homeschooling Program through Girl Scouts
Reading: Girls must read in order to complete badges, but the reading
can go so much further. My girls have had to read to memorize various
items, including songs, the promise and law, and their parts in
different plays. We also read the story of Girl Scouts, and Juliet Low,
the Founder. The girls are also required to read the rules for product
sales, and of course, the incentives they can earn by selling the
products. Girls must decide how to spend the money earned by the product
sales, and in doing so often do research. The older the GS the more
reading is necessary. We learn to read best by reading those things that
are important to us, and those things for which we can see practical
value. Girls usually enjoy scouts and therefore the reading is valuable
to them. In some cases, the reading might be a bit above their comfort
level, but because they are motivated to read, reading happens, and
skills develop.
Writing: There are constant opportunities for writing. The girls in my
troop have written the following: thank you notes, posters for product
sales, invitations to various ceremonies, letters for many occasions
(including one to the President), and more. As the girls get older, GS
encourages the girls to write notes to people who have purchased
cookies. Again, as with reading, the writing within GS is usually
meaningful, practical and useful
Math: The math opportunities are endless. Product sales provide lots of
opportunities for mathboth in handling money and figuring out how many
more boxes of cookies you need to sell in order to reach your personal
goal. Dues are also vital and the youngest of scouts can be responsible
for paying their own dues. As the girls get older, they take an active
role in troop finances. They decide how to spend the money, and budget
the various trips, activities, and service projects as a troop. At the
Senior level, they actually take over the troop checking account, along
with their adult advisor. There are math badges at all levels, as well.
Science: There are many science badges, at all levels. The founder of
girl scouts and the current folks who write GS badges must realize how
important science (and math) is (are) to girls. Girl Scouts also
provides a wonderful setting (all girls, nothing but girls) for the
learning of science (and math). Ecology and the natural environment is
stressed, as is nutrition, health, hygiene, smoking and drug education,
and more. The health sciences are covered as well.
History/Social Studies: Social Studies is very much in evident in the
girl scout program. Girls learn about the history of girl scouts, and
women. There are badges which address this subject as well.
Physical Education: There are badges at all levels that are geared
toward physical activities. Girls learn all about basic sports, but the
GS program goes further, encouraging a great deal of physical
activities, including horseback riding, boating, camping, skiing,
swimming, hiking, backpacking, no facilities camping (ie, out door
toilets), etc. The girls are taught the skills they need in order to
take on very active roles in the camping experience, doing the majority
of the cooking, cleaning, setting up of camp, and tearing down
themselves. Camping is vital to the GS program, although many leaders
wait until the Junior level to camp. Each girl is encouraged to learn
self defense including how to avoid dangerous situation and how to
protect themselves.
Music: No GS program is complete without music. Campfire songs and fun
songs, songs to sing on car trips to various outings, and songs to sing
when meetings are opening and meetings are closing, songs from different
cultures, and songs from the pastGS meetings are not complete without
the girls singing at least a few songs!
Arts and Crafts: This is my favorite. As a GS leader, I can plan
wonderful projects for the girls to do that I might not do in my own
home. We have painted, drawn with markers, crayons, pencils, and more.
Weve weaved, sewn, tie dyed, t-shirt painting, made mobiles and
collages, gift baskets and ghosts out of tissue and lollypops. My girls
have made cards for all occasions, sock puppets, and made presents for
service projects (the nursing home and the homeless).
Service Projects: Service Projects are a vital part of the GS program.
Service projects help girls to learn how they, as a single person or a
group of girls, can have an effect upon this world. My girls have done
the following projects: feeding the homeless, giving cookies from our
troop to the homeless, performed at nursing homes and retirement
communities, made tray decorations for Meals on Wheels, collected food
for a food bank, collected food, baby items, etc. for a pregnant mom in
need, collected toys and food and other items for a family in need
(adopted that family for Christmas), given gifts to various community
members at appropriate times (new baby, marriage, etc.), picked up trash
in a park, etc. Service projects can be endless, and should be something
that is stressed in the GS troop. The older the girls, the more
intricate the projects can be. Older girls can also be more involved in
the planning process and implementation.
Responsibility: GS teaches girls to be responsible, because as the girls
grow older, the take on every increasingly difficult tasks in the
management of the troop, with the adults being trained to step back and
become advisors.
Spiritual Training: Girl Scouts are not required to believe in God or a
higher power, as personal beliefs are not only respected but diversity
is valued in the program. Girls can omit any part of the GS promise or
law, as fits their personal belief system. The diverse environment helps
girls to see that there are many types of folks in this world, and that
learning to get along with lots of different people and their
differences, is valuable. Girls promise to be a sister to every scout,
regardless of race, religion, or any other category.
Patriotism: The GS allows girls, if it does not interfere with her
personal belief system, to learn to be a good citizen for her country.
Girl Scouts is in almost all Countries in the world, and the GS
organization wants each girl to support her own country, and be a good
citizen for that country. Flag ceremonies, saying of the pledge and
other forms of patriotism are encouraged but at not time is any girl
forced to participate in anything that makes her uncomfortably or goes
against her beliefs. This is good for ALL girls, allowing them to see
that people can do things a bit differently and still be Girl Scouts.
The S wordSocial Skills: Girl Scouts is a great place for girls to be
with girls, to make friends, especially with friends who otherwise they
might not get to meet. We do not allow, in our troop, cliques or
groupsall the girls work with all the girls. The younger are helped by
the older, good friends can sometimes work with each other and at other
times, the girls know they need to learn to get along with and work with
people who are not their best friend. Our troop is a very supportive
one, with an environment where the girls are encouraging and loving to
each other. The social skills learned in a good GS troop are positive
and valuable.
FUN! This is probably the most important part of the GS program. This is
a time for girls to come together and be with friends, to sing songs, to
paint or draw, to complete badges and help our neighbors. As serious as
I take the GS program, as part of our lives and part of our educational
plan for our daughters, I never forget that fun is so important. We
laugh and hug and really love to be with each other, and that is what GS
is all about!
Michele Evard
At 10:14 PM 6/13/2003 -0700, Joylyn wrote:
i have a question for you. i'm not very familiar with the girl scouts
organization, so i'm not sure if everyone at your conference is either. (i
was in a co-ed group called pathfinders as a child & teen, but i suspect
they are run somewhat differently.)
do girls in scouts get to choose the badges they want to do individually or
as a troop, or do the adults choose them? what's a "math badge"? do they
have to do badges? your music, arts & crafts, and service projects sound
great. are those activities for badges or "just for fun"?
i realize that the information you gave is the handout & not the talk, but
i'm not sure how similar the handout & talk are. if i were just reading
the handout, i'd want an introductory paragraph about GS in general, and
how my children could choose to participate, or if they can opt out of
things that aren't interesting or meaningful to them. i realize that
you've probably divided activities into school topics for the benefit of
the audience, but i'm not sure if GS uses the same categories or not. the
"math badges" were one thing that made me question how 'schooly' girl
scouts is.
thanks!
michele
p.s. i've sent some nitpicky comments (e.g. about missing punctuation)
directly to you, but i thought other people might have this question too.
>I'm speaking tomorrow at a homeschool conference, on using scouting inhi joylyn,
>homeschooling.
i have a question for you. i'm not very familiar with the girl scouts
organization, so i'm not sure if everyone at your conference is either. (i
was in a co-ed group called pathfinders as a child & teen, but i suspect
they are run somewhat differently.)
do girls in scouts get to choose the badges they want to do individually or
as a troop, or do the adults choose them? what's a "math badge"? do they
have to do badges? your music, arts & crafts, and service projects sound
great. are those activities for badges or "just for fun"?
i realize that the information you gave is the handout & not the talk, but
i'm not sure how similar the handout & talk are. if i were just reading
the handout, i'd want an introductory paragraph about GS in general, and
how my children could choose to participate, or if they can opt out of
things that aren't interesting or meaningful to them. i realize that
you've probably divided activities into school topics for the benefit of
the audience, but i'm not sure if GS uses the same categories or not. the
"math badges" were one thing that made me question how 'schooly' girl
scouts is.
thanks!
michele
p.s. i've sent some nitpicky comments (e.g. about missing punctuation)
directly to you, but i thought other people might have this question too.
Cheryl
I'm new to this list and have just finished reading my second John Holt
book ("Teaching Your Own," and I've also read "How Children Learn"). I
appreciate the range of activities and opportunities that Girl Scouts
provides, but I think my thoughts are similar to Michele's. The very
phrase "educational activities" suggests that our children need special
teachers and special situations in order to learn. There is no such
thing as an "educational activity" in the "always learning" philosophy.
Am I correct? There is only life itself, and the freedom to learn from
it what we want to learn.
Cheryl Hulseapple
mevard@... wrote:
book ("Teaching Your Own," and I've also read "How Children Learn"). I
appreciate the range of activities and opportunities that Girl Scouts
provides, but I think my thoughts are similar to Michele's. The very
phrase "educational activities" suggests that our children need special
teachers and special situations in order to learn. There is no such
thing as an "educational activity" in the "always learning" philosophy.
Am I correct? There is only life itself, and the freedom to learn from
it what we want to learn.
Cheryl Hulseapple
mevard@... wrote:
>At 10:14 PM 6/13/2003 -0700, Joylyn wrote:
>
>
>>I'm speaking tomorrow at a homeschool conference, on using scouting in
>>homeschooling.
>>
>>
>
>hi joylyn,
>
>do girls in scouts get to choose the badges they want to do individually or
>as a troop, or do the adults choose them? what's a "math badge"? do they
>have to do badges? your music, arts & crafts, and service projects sound
>great. are those activities for badges or "just for fun"?
>
>i realize that the information you gave is the handout & not the talk, but
>i'm not sure how similar the handout & talk are. if i were just reading
>the handout, i'd want an introductory paragraph about GS in general, and
>how my children could choose to participate, or if they can opt out of
>things that aren't interesting or meaningful to them. i realize that
>you've probably divided activities into school topics for the benefit of
>the audience, but i'm not sure if GS uses the same categories or not. the
>"math badges" were one thing that made me question how 'schooly' girl
>scouts is.
>
>thanks!
>
>michele
>
>
[email protected]
Joylyn,
If you want to wrest it back away from me you can, but I've put your girl
scout thing up here:
http://sandradodd.com/unschool/girlscout
<A HREF="http://sandradodd.com/unschool/girlscout">HOMESCHOOLING AND GIRL
SCOUTING</A>
and linked it from the specialty and international page.
<A HREF="http://sandradodd.com/unschoolingotherwise">Home Education
Sites--International and Special…</A>
I SUPPOSE if you wish I hadn't you can let me know and I'll try to get around
to removing it.
(No, if you want it not to be there it will be gone swiftly.)
I changed a few little things, just spelling and punctuation stuff, and left
out one phrase that couldn't be punctuated because it was clear without it
anyway--I hope I didn't scar it. Let me know if you want to add to it, if you're
willing for it to be there.
Sandra
If you want to wrest it back away from me you can, but I've put your girl
scout thing up here:
http://sandradodd.com/unschool/girlscout
<A HREF="http://sandradodd.com/unschool/girlscout">HOMESCHOOLING AND GIRL
SCOUTING</A>
and linked it from the specialty and international page.
<A HREF="http://sandradodd.com/unschoolingotherwise">Home Education
Sites--International and Special…</A>
I SUPPOSE if you wish I hadn't you can let me know and I'll try to get around
to removing it.
(No, if you want it not to be there it will be gone swiftly.)
I changed a few little things, just spelling and punctuation stuff, and left
out one phrase that couldn't be punctuated because it was clear without it
anyway--I hope I didn't scar it. Let me know if you want to add to it, if you're
willing for it to be there.
Sandra
Joylyn
All true, but the conference is not an unschooling conference, and many
are school at homers, etc.
Joylyn
Cheryl wrote:
are school at homers, etc.
Joylyn
Cheryl wrote:
> I'm new to this list and have just finished reading my second John Holt[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
> book ("Teaching Your Own," and I've also read "How Children Learn"). I
> appreciate the range of activities and opportunities that Girl Scouts
> provides, but I think my thoughts are similar to Michele's. The very
> phrase "educational activities" suggests that our children need special
> teachers and special situations in order to learn. There is no such
> thing as an "educational activity" in the "always learning" philosophy.
> Am I correct? There is only life itself, and the freedom to learn from
> it what we want to learn.
>
> Cheryl Hulseapple
>
> mevard@... wrote:
>
> >At 10:14 PM 6/13/2003 -0700, Joylyn wrote:
> >
> >
> >>I'm speaking tomorrow at a homeschool conference, on using scouting in
> >>homeschooling.
> >>
> >>
> >
> >hi joylyn,
> >
> >do girls in scouts get to choose the badges they want to do
> individually or
> >as a troop, or do the adults choose them? what's a "math badge"? do
> they
> >have to do badges? your music, arts & crafts, and service projects
> sound
> >great. are those activities for badges or "just for fun"?
> >
> >i realize that the information you gave is the handout & not the
> talk, but
> >i'm not sure how similar the handout & talk are. if i were just reading
> >the handout, i'd want an introductory paragraph about GS in general, and
> >how my children could choose to participate, or if they can opt out of
> >things that aren't interesting or meaningful to them. i realize that
> >you've probably divided activities into school topics for the benefit of
> >the audience, but i'm not sure if GS uses the same categories or
> not. the
> >"math badges" were one thing that made me question how 'schooly' girl
> >scouts is.
> >
> >thanks!
> >
> >michele
> >
> >
>
>
> Yahoo! Groups Sponsor
> ADVERTISEMENT
> <http://rd.yahoo.com/M=243107.3426472.4708766.1501134/D=egroupweb/S=1705542111:HM/A=1455157/R=0/SIG=14celrbvs/*http://www.qksrv.net/click-1247917-10124188?url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.genealogy.com%2Fcpc%2Ftrial14-census.html%3Fpriority%3D5000203&persist=30>
>
>
>
> To unsubscribe from this group, send an email to:
> [email protected]
>
>
>
> Your use of Yahoo! Groups is subject to the Yahoo! Terms of Service
> <http://docs.yahoo.com/info/terms/>.
[email protected]
In a message dated 6/14/03 6:32:31 AM, lettersat3am@... writes:
<< The very
phrase "educational activities" suggests that our children need special
teachers and special situations in order to learn. There is no such
thing as an "educational activity" in the "always learning" philosophy. >>
From this side, no.
From the other side, if someone can be helped to see that all the "subject
matter" exists in girl scouting, they might on their own realize it all could
exist in any one hobby or activity. Once they see it in two or three places,
they'll start to see that it's everywhere.
Sandra
<< The very
phrase "educational activities" suggests that our children need special
teachers and special situations in order to learn. There is no such
thing as an "educational activity" in the "always learning" philosophy. >>
From this side, no.
From the other side, if someone can be helped to see that all the "subject
matter" exists in girl scouting, they might on their own realize it all could
exist in any one hobby or activity. Once they see it in two or three places,
they'll start to see that it's everywhere.
Sandra
Joylyn
Yes... I guess I should have been clear that this is a big homeschooling
conference with a lot of subjects for those new at or thinking about
homeschooling. Not unschooling.
Joylyn
SandraDodd@... wrote:
conference with a lot of subjects for those new at or thinking about
homeschooling. Not unschooling.
Joylyn
SandraDodd@... wrote:
>[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
> In a message dated 6/14/03 6:32:31 AM, lettersat3am@... writes:
>
> << The very
> phrase "educational activities" suggests that our children need special
> teachers and special situations in order to learn. There is no such
> thing as an "educational activity" in the "always learning"
> philosophy. >>
>
> >From this side, no.
> >From the other side, if someone can be helped to see that all the
> "subject
> matter" exists in girl scouting, they might on their own realize it
> all could
> exist in any one hobby or activity. Once they see it in two or three
> places,
> they'll start to see that it's everywhere.
>
> Sandra
>
> Yahoo! Groups Sponsor
> ADVERTISEMENT
> <http://rd.yahoo.com/M=243107.3426472.4708766.1501134/D=egroupweb/S=1705542111:HM/A=1455157/R=0/SIG=14celrbvs/*http://www.qksrv.net/click-1247917-10124188?url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.genealogy.com%2Fcpc%2Ftrial14-census.html%3Fpriority%3D5000203&persist=30>
>
>
>
> To unsubscribe from this group, send an email to:
> [email protected]
>
>
>
> Your use of Yahoo! Groups is subject to the Yahoo! Terms of Service
> <http://docs.yahoo.com/info/terms/>.
Joylyn
Michele Evard wrote:
individually. At the brownie level the girls are supposed to have a
say. The idea is when the girls are young, the leaders help the girls
start to learn to manage the troop, the girls vote on projects, trips,
etc. By the Caddette level, the girls are doing all most everything
with the adults only advisors. At the high school level this is even
more so, the girls actually can sign the checkbook, with an adult
cosigner, and manage all the funds. The adults are clearly only advisors.
Mine is not, we do lots of fun things and sometimes "educational'
activities happen, well, lots of times, but I rarely point it out.
Almost all my girls are in school, I have only 4 homeschooled girls in
my troop, including my own daughter (two other families).
Joylyn
> At 10:14 PM 6/13/2003 -0700, Joylyn wrote:OK, I need to write a bit about girl scouts. I'll do so. :-)
> >I'm speaking tomorrow at a homeschool conference, on using scouting in
> >homeschooling.
>
> hi joylyn,
>
> i have a question for you. i'm not very familiar with the girl scouts
> organization, so i'm not sure if everyone at your conference is
> either. (i
> was in a co-ed group called pathfinders as a child & teen, but i suspect
> they are run somewhat differently.)
>Both. The older the girl the more they choose as a troop and
>
> do girls in scouts get to choose the badges they want to do
> individually or
> as a troop, or do the adults choose them? what's a "math badge"? do
> they
> have to do badges? your music, arts & crafts, and service projects sound
> great. are those activities for badges or "just for fun"?
individually. At the brownie level the girls are supposed to have a
say. The idea is when the girls are young, the leaders help the girls
start to learn to manage the troop, the girls vote on projects, trips,
etc. By the Caddette level, the girls are doing all most everything
with the adults only advisors. At the high school level this is even
more so, the girls actually can sign the checkbook, with an adult
cosigner, and manage all the funds. The adults are clearly only advisors.
>Depends on the program. Some troops are rather schooly, others are not.
> i realize that the information you gave is the handout & not the talk,
> but
> i'm not sure how similar the handout & talk are. if i were just reading
> the handout, i'd want an introductory paragraph about GS in general, and
> how my children could choose to participate, or if they can opt out of
> things that aren't interesting or meaningful to them. i realize that
> you've probably divided activities into school topics for the benefit of
> the audience, but i'm not sure if GS uses the same categories or not.
> the
> "math badges" were one thing that made me question how 'schooly' girl
> scouts is.
Mine is not, we do lots of fun things and sometimes "educational'
activities happen, well, lots of times, but I rarely point it out.
Almost all my girls are in school, I have only 4 homeschooled girls in
my troop, including my own daughter (two other families).
Joylyn
>[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
>
> thanks!
>
> michele
>
> p.s. i've sent some nitpicky comments (e.g. about missing punctuation)
> directly to you, but i thought other people might have this question too.
>
>
>
> Yahoo! Groups Sponsor
> ADVERTISEMENT
> Click Here!
> <http://rd.yahoo.com/M=244522.3313099.4604523.1261774/D=egroupweb/S=1705542111:HM/A=1595053/R=0/SIG=124orar12/*http://ashnin.com/clk/muryutaitakenattogyo?YH=3313099&yhad=1595053>
>
>
>
> To unsubscribe from this group, send an email to:
> [email protected]
>
>
>
> Your use of Yahoo! Groups is subject to the Yahoo! Terms of Service
> <http://docs.yahoo.com/info/terms/>.
Joylyn
Well, the only problem is, I didn't really get permission from our
council to do this... I figured I am a homeschooling mom talking about
girl scouts, not a girl scout leader talking about homeschooling.
Also the my service unit person and myself are having difficulties. I'd
love to talk about this to your partner, do you think she'd be willing?
I can call her today on my cell phone, I'd love/need her advice on how
to deal with this woman.
Joylyn
KathrynJB@... wrote:
council to do this... I figured I am a homeschooling mom talking about
girl scouts, not a girl scout leader talking about homeschooling.
Also the my service unit person and myself are having difficulties. I'd
love to talk about this to your partner, do you think she'd be willing?
I can call her today on my cell phone, I'd love/need her advice on how
to deal with this woman.
Joylyn
KathrynJB@... wrote:
> In a message dated 6/14/2003 9:25:17 AM Eastern Standard Time,[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
> [email protected] writes:
>
> > I'm speaking tomorrow at a homeschool conference, on using scouting in
> > homeschooling.
>
> I'm printing out your piece for my partner, Joylyn. She works for a GS
> Council, and constantly hears whining about Girl Scouts and how bad it
> is. (One
> theme seems to be adults who boast with pride, "I was kicked out of
> Girl Scouts!"
> We suspect their parents pulled them out because they were tired of
> getting
> calls about how disruptive they are, then told them they were kicked out.)
>
> Beth will appreciate someone talking about the positives for a change.
>
> While I'm thinking of it, I have a rant. Recently the Philadelphia
> area Boy
> Scout council's board unanimously voted in a non-discrimination policy
> (including about sexual orientation). A long-time teenage Boy Scout
> then came out in a
> newspaper interview...and was kicked out. Sigh...
>
> Kathryn, whose partner is an out Girl Scout
>
>
> [Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
>
>
> Yahoo! Groups Sponsor
> <http://rd.yahoo.com/M=251812.3170658.4537139.1261774/D=egroupweb/S=1705542111:HM/A=1564415/R=0/SIG=11t6t7kdo/*http://www.netflix.com/Default?mqso=60164784&partid=3170658>
>
>
>
> To unsubscribe from this group, send an email to:
> [email protected]
>
>
>
> Your use of Yahoo! Groups is subject to the Yahoo! Terms of Service
> <http://docs.yahoo.com/info/terms/>.
Joylyn
Sandra, I don't have a problem putting it up but can you wait for the
final draft, please?
Joylyn
SandraDodd@... wrote:
final draft, please?
Joylyn
SandraDodd@... wrote:
> Joylyn,[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
>
> If you want to wrest it back away from me you can, but I've put your girl
> scout thing up here:
>
> http://sandradodd.com/unschool/girlscout
> <A HREF="http://sandradodd.com/unschool/girlscout">HOMESCHOOLING AND GIRL
> SCOUTING</A>
> and linked it from the specialty and international page.
> <A HREF="http://sandradodd.com/unschoolingotherwise">Home Education
> Sites--International and Special…</A>
> I SUPPOSE if you wish I hadn't you can let me know and I'll try to get
> around
> to removing it.
>
> (No, if you want it not to be there it will be gone swiftly.)
>
> I changed a few little things, just spelling and punctuation stuff,
> and left
> out one phrase that couldn't be punctuated because it was clear
> without it
> anyway--I hope I didn't scar it. Let me know if you want to add to
> it, if you're
> willing for it to be there.
>
> Sandra
>
> Yahoo! Groups Sponsor
> ADVERTISEMENT
> <http://rd.yahoo.com/M=243107.3426472.4708766.1501134/D=egroupweb/S=1705542111:HM/A=1455157/R=0/SIG=14celrbvs/*http://www.qksrv.net/click-1247917-10124188?url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.genealogy.com%2Fcpc%2Ftrial14-census.html%3Fpriority%3D5000203&persist=30>
>
>
>
> To unsubscribe from this group, send an email to:
> [email protected]
>
>
>
> Your use of Yahoo! Groups is subject to the Yahoo! Terms of Service
> <http://docs.yahoo.com/info/terms/>.
[email protected]
In a message dated 6/14/03 1:19:37 PM, joylyn@... writes:
<< Sandra, I don't have a problem putting it up but can you wait for the
final draft, please? >>
I can put the final on there when you want.
Since your post was dated Friday and you said "tomorrow," I figured you were
already gone to do the talk!
Sandra
<< Sandra, I don't have a problem putting it up but can you wait for the
final draft, please? >>
I can put the final on there when you want.
Since your post was dated Friday and you said "tomorrow," I figured you were
already gone to do the talk!
Sandra
Joylyn
That's OK. Feel free to use the one I will paste below. It's the final
draft.
The talk went pretty well, considering. I was unsure what to wear. As a
member of LLL and being a chair on the LLL committee I know at those
conferences I have to wear something fairly nice but I am not a member
of CHN and this was a homeschooling conference and I am a volunteer
speaker, I decided to wear my nice jeans. The girls had on their
matching tie dye long sleeved shirts and so I threw on a tie dye shirt.
I had just finished Janene hair a few days before, adding purple
extensions to her braids, it looks absolutely lovely but, I admit now,
hardly conservative. Lexie still has her two Annie braids, I was going
to put her blue extentions into her hair but we are visiting my
grandparents tomorrow and Lexie felt that Janene's purple hair was
enough for my grandparents to handle, that they might not be able to
deal with her having blue braids as well, so she said she'd wait until
tomorrow night. Anyway, so here we are, in tie dye and purple braids. I
show up just before the talk starts, Janene is not with me, she has
found a friend and her baby and went with them for a bit. I do have
Lexie and Savannah, another homeschooled child who is a girl scout and
wanted to attend with us. I sit down next to two boy scout women, one of
which does cub scouts and the other boy scouts. On the other side of me
is another woman, dressed in red white and blue. In front of me at the
front table are these little girls that have similar uniforms on, but
they reminded me of the photos you see of the young hitler youth, lots
of red white and blue. Flag waving, as my dad calls it. I was
immediately uncomfortable. I look at the binder the adult has in front
of her and it has on it the words "American Heritage Girls" (go to
http://www.ahgonline.org/ to see about this organization) I have no idea
who she is, I've never heard of this organization but I figure, what the
hell.. I'm here. I had decided on my way in that I was going to
introduce myself not as a representative of girl scouts, but instead as
a homeschooler who happens to be a girl scout leader, with the idea that
I am talking about how girl scouts fits into our homeschool life.
So now we begin. The moderator is one of the speakers, she introduces us
all and as she is doing this I see a cockroach about 6 inches from her
on her notebook. I quietly point it out to her thinking if it gets on
her without her knowledge that would be worse, but she was pretty
freaked out by it and I finally got a napkin and snatched the poor
thing, all the while making light of it. Did I say this session was
being taped? I said something about how I hoped it hadn't escaped from
the hands on bug workshop. I had to leave the room to throw it away. I
did find it interesting that I was the only one who was OK with taking
care of the bug issue calmly. hmmm
So then it's the lovely lady who is with the Amican Heritage Girls time
to speak. She announces that her program was begun because there were a
great deal of Christains who believed that girl scouts were moving away
from core values they wanted to teach their children. I'm thinking, "oh
great." She introduces her little uniformed clad children and I'm
looking at Lexie in her tie dye, thinking that this year's uniform for
many of my girl scout girls are tie dye shirts we made as a troop!
I introduce myself and basically sorta read my bio and introduction
which is on my sheet... below. I do say that girl scouts is for girls
ages 5 to 18, that men can be and are girl scouts, that it's where
"girls grow strong", etc. And I say, almost word for word, the
following: . It is a place where they can learn to be strong women;
where they can learn to be leaders. GS do not, by policy, discriminate
for ANY reason, including sexual orientation or how a girl or her family
might believe. The GS program is flexible, so all girls, regardless of
personal belief systems or lifestyle, can join and benefit. The only
people who are barred membership are boys." Ok, got that out of the way...
Then we take questions. At about this time, my friend brings back
Janene, who joins me at the podium. As we all are fielding questions,
Janene gets out paper and pencil and is drawing under the table, which
as a long table cloth on it. Every so often she pops up between my knees
and asks me a question or gets a grape out of the bag Janene is not a
quiet sit in a chair and not move child, but she's doing pretty good, in
my view. I'm sure others might think differently. A bit later my friend
Andy comes in, she's Savannah's mom. She sits down, but not next to
Savannah as there are no chairs there. During all this time as I am
talking, to answer a question or whatever, Savvy or Lexie will indicate
to me that they have something to add and I let them do so. The hitler
lady's children didn't say a word or even act animated. The time is
almost gone and I'm thinking to myself--good job joylyn, you have gotten
through this without addressing the homosexual or athiest issue, beyond
your initial strong statement, this is about homeschooling, not your
personal feelings....and then my good friend Andy pipes up--"Do you know
anything about Circle Scouts" knowning damn well that I do know about it
and where it will lead. At dinner later she told me she just had to do
that. She says this with a big grin, she's a UU and a bit of a
troublemaker, in such a good way, I like her so! So I talked about them
for a bit, as an alternative. Someone asked why we would need an
alternative and I said "The boy scouts actively discriminate against
boys and adults who do not believe in a higher power and those who are
gay." Of course, this started something. One paramilitary man, obviously
a die hard boy scout, brought up the issue up north with the boy who was
kicked out because he would not say he believed in any higher power and
tried to make the point that boy scouts had tried everything to give him
and out but he refused to take it (ie, he didn't ahve to say he believed
in a GOD but he did have to say he believed in something as his higher
power. The young man refused.) I clarified that I personally thought
that young man was quite brave and strong as he stood up against
powerful adults and stuck up for his personal belief system and I found
that trait to be quite admirable. Not what the man wanted me to say. One
woman said "so what do we do if we have boys and want them involved in
an organization like boy scouts" I said that I thougth boy scouts was a
good organization that did a lot of good for boys but that I personally
could not belong to or allow my children to belong to an organization
that actively discriminates against others for any reason, but that
every person needed to look into their own hearts, and examine their own
belief system and decide for themselves what was best for their family.
That was really how the talk ended.
I had a lot of people nodding and smiling at me and quite a few said
after that I was an excellent speaker and quite articulate, which is
funny because I often think I'm a bumbling idiot, as things sometimes
don't come out as I wish them to or as I hear them in my head. One woman
talked further--her son IS in boy scouts and she had NO idea there were
these issues, so we talked for a bit, and then invited her to email me
further. It was an interesting session. I'm adding later, that there
were also quite a few who were obviously, as Andy put it, die hard boy
scouts who were likely homophobic and that was one big reason they liked
the boy scouts, keep their sons away from those that would make them
gay. But most were somewhere in between, and I know I made a few people
think.
Unschooling did come up. Someone asked about how he had heard that some
people use scouts as their ENTIRE schooling program. The boy scouts and
cub scout people addressed that and then I said something like "I'm not
sure why someone would want to do that, as an unschooler we are learning
all the time, every day, in all parts of our lives, ang girl scouts just
adds to that, but I can also see that someone could take the girl scout
program and use it completely in homeschooling and that it would be a
very well rounded program." He then asked how a girl could learn math
through the program and Savvy answered this, she talked about the math
badges, and such. I then added the bit about product sales, and that in
my opinion just living in our world today and being a part of daily life
teaches my girls math that is meaningful to them. I also talked about
how the older girls manage their troop checkbooks and that I couldn't
wait for that time period because then Lexie could also take over my own
checkbook and maybe it would actually balance. Unschooling is so hard
for people to get and I just dont' understand why.... And of course, one
woman I spoke with later said that of course it works NOW because my
kids are so young but by the time they were in middle school I would
have to do text books and worksheets with them, right? Uh, no...
Andy and I had dinner, with a few other people, and Andy said it was
most amusing, to see me sitting between these obviously different folks,
me in my tie dye while they were wearing their uniforms or more proper
clothing, with Janene and her purple braids popping up every so often.
so there you have it.
Here is the final product, I'm sure there are errors in it as well, but
this time I don't wish to know about them. :-) Sandra, feel free to edit
them out. Also, I can send you privately the document in word with
formatting... just let me know.
Joylyn
HOMESCHOOLING AND GIRL SCOUTING
Joylyn Fowler
joylyn@...
Bio: I spent four years in Girl Scouts as a girl, three years in GS as
an adult, with the last two as a leader. I am currently a leader in a
multi-level troop (Brownies and Juniors) with three other leaders. My
husband and I are unschooling our two daughters, ages 4 and 8.
What is Girl Scouts: These are my own words; these are not taken from
the Girl Scout Website or Literature. Girl Scouts--�Where Girls Grow
Strong.� GS is a program that allows girls to be in an all girl
environment (with exception of helpful daddies and other adult men, and
male siblings) In GS, girls are loved for themselves. It is a place
where they can learn to be strong women; where they can learn to be
leaders. GS do not, by policy, discriminate for ANY reason, including
sexual orientation or how a girl or her family might believe. The GS
program is flexible, so all girls, regardless of personal belief systems
or lifestyle, can join and benefit. The only people who are barred
membership are boys�adult men can and are GS. GS is an all inclusive
environment where our girls can learn and grow and be the best they can
be, learning to get along with others and helping their communities.
Augmentation of a Homeschooling Program through Girl Scouts
Reading: Girls must read in order to complete badges, but the reading
can go so much further. My girls have had to read to memorize various
items, including songs, the promise and law, and their parts in
different plays. We also read the story of Girl Scouts, and founder,
Juliette Low. The girls are also required to read the rules for product
sales, and, of course, the incentives they can earn by selling the
products. Girls must decide how to spend the money earned by the product
sales, and, in doing so, often do research on their various options. The
older the GS, the more reading is necessary. We learn to read best by
reading those things that are important to us, and those things for
which we can see practical value. Girls usually enjoy scouts; and
therefore the reading is valuable to them. In some cases, the reading
might be a bit above their comfort level, but because they are motivated
to read, reading happens, and skills develop.
Writing: There are constant opportunities for writing. The girls in my
troop have written the following: thank you notes, posters for product
sales, invitations to various ceremonies, letters for many occasions
(including one to the President), and more. As the girls get older, GS
encourages the girls to write notes to people who have purchased
cookies. Again, as with reading, the writing within GS is usually
meaningful, practical and useful
Math: The math opportunities are endless. Product sales provide lots of
opportunities for math�both in handling money and figuring out how many
more boxes a girl needs to sell in order to reach your personal goal.
Dues are also vital and the even the youngest of scouts can be
responsible for paying her own dues. As the girls get older, they take
an active role in troop finances. They decide how to spend the money,
and budget the various trips, activities, and service projects as a
troop. At the Senior level, they actually take over the troop checking
account, along with their adult advisor. There are math badges at all
levels, as well.
Science: There are many science badges, at all levels. The founder of
girl scouts and the current folks who write GS badges must realize how
important science is to girls. Girl Scouts also provides a wonderful
setting (all girls, nothing but girls) for the learning of science and
math. Ecology and the natural environment are stressed, as is nutrition,
health, hygiene, smoking and drug education, and more.
History/Social Studies: Social Studies is very much in evidence in the
girl scout program. Girls learn about the history of GS, and women.
There are badges which address this subject as well.
Physical Education: There are badges at all levels that are geared
toward physical activities. Girls learn all about basic sports, but the
GS program goes further, encouraging a great deal of physical
activities, including horseback riding, boating, camping, skiing,
swimming, hiking, backpacking, no facilities camping (i.e., outdoor
toilets), etc. The girls are taught the skills they need in order to
take on very active roles in the camping experience, by doing the
majority of the cooking, cleaning, setting up of camp, and tearing down
the camp themselves. Although many leaders wait until the Junior level
to camp, camping is vital to the GS program. Each girl is encouraged to
learn self defense including how to avoid dangerous situations and how
to protect herself.
Music: No GS program is complete without music. Campfire songs and fun
songs, songs to sing on car trips to various outings, and songs to sing
when meetings are opening and closing, songs from different cultures,
and songs from the past�GS meetings are not complete without the girls
singing at least a few songs!
Arts and Crafts: This is my favorite. As a GS leader, I can plan
wonderful projects for the girls to do that I might not do in my own
home. We have painted, drawn with markers, crayons, pencils, and more.
We�ve weaved, sewn, tie dyed, painted t-shirt, made mobiles and
collages, gift baskets and ghosts out of tissue and lollypops. My girls
have made cards for all occasions, sock puppets, and made presents for
service projects (the nursing home and the homeless).
Service Projects: Service Projects are a vital part of the GS program.
Service projects help a girl to learn how she, as a single person or a
group, can have an effect upon this world. My girls have done the
following projects: fed the homeless, performed at nursing homes and
retirement communities, made tray decorations for Meals on Wheels,
collected food for a food bank, collected food, baby items, etc. for a
pregnant mom in need, adopted a family for Christmas (collected toys and
food and other items for a family in need), given gifts to various
community members at appropriate times (new baby, marriage, etc.), and
picked up trash in a park. Service projects can be endless and should be
stressed in the GS troop. The older the girls, the more intricate the
projects can be. Older girls can also be more involved in the planning
process and implementation.
Responsibility: In GS, girls learn responsibility: as they grow older
they take on increasingly difficult tasks in the management of the
troop, while the adults step back and become advisors.
Spiritual Training: Girl Scouts are not required to believe in God or a
higher power, as personal beliefs are not only respected but diversity
is valued in the program. A girl can omit any part of the GS promise or
law, as fits her personal belief system. The diverse environment helps
girls to see that there are many types of folks in this world and that
learning to get along with lots of different people and their
differences is valuable. A girl promises to be a sister to every scout,
regardless of race, religion, or any other category.
Patriotism: The GS allows a girl, if it does not interfere with her
personal belief system, to learn to be a good citizen for her country.
Girl Scouts is in almost every country in the world, and the GS
organization wants each girl to support her own country and be a good
citizen for that country. Flag ceremonies, reciting the pledge and other
forms of patriotism are encouraged but at no time is any girl forced to
participate in anything that makes her uncomfortable or goes against her
beliefs. This is good for ALL girls, allowing them to see that people
can do things a bit differently and still be Girl Scouts.
The �S� Word�Social Skills: Girl Scouts is a great place for girls to be
with girls, to make friends, especially with girls whom otherwise they
might not get to meet. We do not allow, in our troop, cliques or
groups�each girl works with all the girls. The older girls help the
younger, and they all try to get along�despite differences. Our troop is
very supportive, with an environment where the girls are encouraging and
loving to each other. The social skills learned in a good GS troop are
positive and valuable.
Field Trips: We have gone on a number of field trips, including Sea
World, San Diego Wild Animal Park, the musicals Cats and Seussical, our
year end trip at the local water park, Palm Springs and tram, an apple
farm to pick apples, museums, the Discovery Science Center, and more.
The list is of possible field trips is endless.
FUN! This is probably the most important part of the GS program. This is
a time for girls to come together and be with friends, to sing songs, to
engage in arts & crafts, to complete a badge and to help our neighbors.
As seriously as I take the GS program, as part of our lives and part of
our educational plan for our daughters, I never forget that fun is so
important. We laugh and hug and really love to be with each other, and
that is what GS is all about!
SandraDodd@... wrote:
draft.
The talk went pretty well, considering. I was unsure what to wear. As a
member of LLL and being a chair on the LLL committee I know at those
conferences I have to wear something fairly nice but I am not a member
of CHN and this was a homeschooling conference and I am a volunteer
speaker, I decided to wear my nice jeans. The girls had on their
matching tie dye long sleeved shirts and so I threw on a tie dye shirt.
I had just finished Janene hair a few days before, adding purple
extensions to her braids, it looks absolutely lovely but, I admit now,
hardly conservative. Lexie still has her two Annie braids, I was going
to put her blue extentions into her hair but we are visiting my
grandparents tomorrow and Lexie felt that Janene's purple hair was
enough for my grandparents to handle, that they might not be able to
deal with her having blue braids as well, so she said she'd wait until
tomorrow night. Anyway, so here we are, in tie dye and purple braids. I
show up just before the talk starts, Janene is not with me, she has
found a friend and her baby and went with them for a bit. I do have
Lexie and Savannah, another homeschooled child who is a girl scout and
wanted to attend with us. I sit down next to two boy scout women, one of
which does cub scouts and the other boy scouts. On the other side of me
is another woman, dressed in red white and blue. In front of me at the
front table are these little girls that have similar uniforms on, but
they reminded me of the photos you see of the young hitler youth, lots
of red white and blue. Flag waving, as my dad calls it. I was
immediately uncomfortable. I look at the binder the adult has in front
of her and it has on it the words "American Heritage Girls" (go to
http://www.ahgonline.org/ to see about this organization) I have no idea
who she is, I've never heard of this organization but I figure, what the
hell.. I'm here. I had decided on my way in that I was going to
introduce myself not as a representative of girl scouts, but instead as
a homeschooler who happens to be a girl scout leader, with the idea that
I am talking about how girl scouts fits into our homeschool life.
So now we begin. The moderator is one of the speakers, she introduces us
all and as she is doing this I see a cockroach about 6 inches from her
on her notebook. I quietly point it out to her thinking if it gets on
her without her knowledge that would be worse, but she was pretty
freaked out by it and I finally got a napkin and snatched the poor
thing, all the while making light of it. Did I say this session was
being taped? I said something about how I hoped it hadn't escaped from
the hands on bug workshop. I had to leave the room to throw it away. I
did find it interesting that I was the only one who was OK with taking
care of the bug issue calmly. hmmm
So then it's the lovely lady who is with the Amican Heritage Girls time
to speak. She announces that her program was begun because there were a
great deal of Christains who believed that girl scouts were moving away
from core values they wanted to teach their children. I'm thinking, "oh
great." She introduces her little uniformed clad children and I'm
looking at Lexie in her tie dye, thinking that this year's uniform for
many of my girl scout girls are tie dye shirts we made as a troop!
I introduce myself and basically sorta read my bio and introduction
which is on my sheet... below. I do say that girl scouts is for girls
ages 5 to 18, that men can be and are girl scouts, that it's where
"girls grow strong", etc. And I say, almost word for word, the
following: . It is a place where they can learn to be strong women;
where they can learn to be leaders. GS do not, by policy, discriminate
for ANY reason, including sexual orientation or how a girl or her family
might believe. The GS program is flexible, so all girls, regardless of
personal belief systems or lifestyle, can join and benefit. The only
people who are barred membership are boys." Ok, got that out of the way...
Then we take questions. At about this time, my friend brings back
Janene, who joins me at the podium. As we all are fielding questions,
Janene gets out paper and pencil and is drawing under the table, which
as a long table cloth on it. Every so often she pops up between my knees
and asks me a question or gets a grape out of the bag Janene is not a
quiet sit in a chair and not move child, but she's doing pretty good, in
my view. I'm sure others might think differently. A bit later my friend
Andy comes in, she's Savannah's mom. She sits down, but not next to
Savannah as there are no chairs there. During all this time as I am
talking, to answer a question or whatever, Savvy or Lexie will indicate
to me that they have something to add and I let them do so. The hitler
lady's children didn't say a word or even act animated. The time is
almost gone and I'm thinking to myself--good job joylyn, you have gotten
through this without addressing the homosexual or athiest issue, beyond
your initial strong statement, this is about homeschooling, not your
personal feelings....and then my good friend Andy pipes up--"Do you know
anything about Circle Scouts" knowning damn well that I do know about it
and where it will lead. At dinner later she told me she just had to do
that. She says this with a big grin, she's a UU and a bit of a
troublemaker, in such a good way, I like her so! So I talked about them
for a bit, as an alternative. Someone asked why we would need an
alternative and I said "The boy scouts actively discriminate against
boys and adults who do not believe in a higher power and those who are
gay." Of course, this started something. One paramilitary man, obviously
a die hard boy scout, brought up the issue up north with the boy who was
kicked out because he would not say he believed in any higher power and
tried to make the point that boy scouts had tried everything to give him
and out but he refused to take it (ie, he didn't ahve to say he believed
in a GOD but he did have to say he believed in something as his higher
power. The young man refused.) I clarified that I personally thought
that young man was quite brave and strong as he stood up against
powerful adults and stuck up for his personal belief system and I found
that trait to be quite admirable. Not what the man wanted me to say. One
woman said "so what do we do if we have boys and want them involved in
an organization like boy scouts" I said that I thougth boy scouts was a
good organization that did a lot of good for boys but that I personally
could not belong to or allow my children to belong to an organization
that actively discriminates against others for any reason, but that
every person needed to look into their own hearts, and examine their own
belief system and decide for themselves what was best for their family.
That was really how the talk ended.
I had a lot of people nodding and smiling at me and quite a few said
after that I was an excellent speaker and quite articulate, which is
funny because I often think I'm a bumbling idiot, as things sometimes
don't come out as I wish them to or as I hear them in my head. One woman
talked further--her son IS in boy scouts and she had NO idea there were
these issues, so we talked for a bit, and then invited her to email me
further. It was an interesting session. I'm adding later, that there
were also quite a few who were obviously, as Andy put it, die hard boy
scouts who were likely homophobic and that was one big reason they liked
the boy scouts, keep their sons away from those that would make them
gay. But most were somewhere in between, and I know I made a few people
think.
Unschooling did come up. Someone asked about how he had heard that some
people use scouts as their ENTIRE schooling program. The boy scouts and
cub scout people addressed that and then I said something like "I'm not
sure why someone would want to do that, as an unschooler we are learning
all the time, every day, in all parts of our lives, ang girl scouts just
adds to that, but I can also see that someone could take the girl scout
program and use it completely in homeschooling and that it would be a
very well rounded program." He then asked how a girl could learn math
through the program and Savvy answered this, she talked about the math
badges, and such. I then added the bit about product sales, and that in
my opinion just living in our world today and being a part of daily life
teaches my girls math that is meaningful to them. I also talked about
how the older girls manage their troop checkbooks and that I couldn't
wait for that time period because then Lexie could also take over my own
checkbook and maybe it would actually balance. Unschooling is so hard
for people to get and I just dont' understand why.... And of course, one
woman I spoke with later said that of course it works NOW because my
kids are so young but by the time they were in middle school I would
have to do text books and worksheets with them, right? Uh, no...
Andy and I had dinner, with a few other people, and Andy said it was
most amusing, to see me sitting between these obviously different folks,
me in my tie dye while they were wearing their uniforms or more proper
clothing, with Janene and her purple braids popping up every so often.
so there you have it.
Here is the final product, I'm sure there are errors in it as well, but
this time I don't wish to know about them. :-) Sandra, feel free to edit
them out. Also, I can send you privately the document in word with
formatting... just let me know.
Joylyn
HOMESCHOOLING AND GIRL SCOUTING
Joylyn Fowler
joylyn@...
Bio: I spent four years in Girl Scouts as a girl, three years in GS as
an adult, with the last two as a leader. I am currently a leader in a
multi-level troop (Brownies and Juniors) with three other leaders. My
husband and I are unschooling our two daughters, ages 4 and 8.
What is Girl Scouts: These are my own words; these are not taken from
the Girl Scout Website or Literature. Girl Scouts--�Where Girls Grow
Strong.� GS is a program that allows girls to be in an all girl
environment (with exception of helpful daddies and other adult men, and
male siblings) In GS, girls are loved for themselves. It is a place
where they can learn to be strong women; where they can learn to be
leaders. GS do not, by policy, discriminate for ANY reason, including
sexual orientation or how a girl or her family might believe. The GS
program is flexible, so all girls, regardless of personal belief systems
or lifestyle, can join and benefit. The only people who are barred
membership are boys�adult men can and are GS. GS is an all inclusive
environment where our girls can learn and grow and be the best they can
be, learning to get along with others and helping their communities.
Augmentation of a Homeschooling Program through Girl Scouts
Reading: Girls must read in order to complete badges, but the reading
can go so much further. My girls have had to read to memorize various
items, including songs, the promise and law, and their parts in
different plays. We also read the story of Girl Scouts, and founder,
Juliette Low. The girls are also required to read the rules for product
sales, and, of course, the incentives they can earn by selling the
products. Girls must decide how to spend the money earned by the product
sales, and, in doing so, often do research on their various options. The
older the GS, the more reading is necessary. We learn to read best by
reading those things that are important to us, and those things for
which we can see practical value. Girls usually enjoy scouts; and
therefore the reading is valuable to them. In some cases, the reading
might be a bit above their comfort level, but because they are motivated
to read, reading happens, and skills develop.
Writing: There are constant opportunities for writing. The girls in my
troop have written the following: thank you notes, posters for product
sales, invitations to various ceremonies, letters for many occasions
(including one to the President), and more. As the girls get older, GS
encourages the girls to write notes to people who have purchased
cookies. Again, as with reading, the writing within GS is usually
meaningful, practical and useful
Math: The math opportunities are endless. Product sales provide lots of
opportunities for math�both in handling money and figuring out how many
more boxes a girl needs to sell in order to reach your personal goal.
Dues are also vital and the even the youngest of scouts can be
responsible for paying her own dues. As the girls get older, they take
an active role in troop finances. They decide how to spend the money,
and budget the various trips, activities, and service projects as a
troop. At the Senior level, they actually take over the troop checking
account, along with their adult advisor. There are math badges at all
levels, as well.
Science: There are many science badges, at all levels. The founder of
girl scouts and the current folks who write GS badges must realize how
important science is to girls. Girl Scouts also provides a wonderful
setting (all girls, nothing but girls) for the learning of science and
math. Ecology and the natural environment are stressed, as is nutrition,
health, hygiene, smoking and drug education, and more.
History/Social Studies: Social Studies is very much in evidence in the
girl scout program. Girls learn about the history of GS, and women.
There are badges which address this subject as well.
Physical Education: There are badges at all levels that are geared
toward physical activities. Girls learn all about basic sports, but the
GS program goes further, encouraging a great deal of physical
activities, including horseback riding, boating, camping, skiing,
swimming, hiking, backpacking, no facilities camping (i.e., outdoor
toilets), etc. The girls are taught the skills they need in order to
take on very active roles in the camping experience, by doing the
majority of the cooking, cleaning, setting up of camp, and tearing down
the camp themselves. Although many leaders wait until the Junior level
to camp, camping is vital to the GS program. Each girl is encouraged to
learn self defense including how to avoid dangerous situations and how
to protect herself.
Music: No GS program is complete without music. Campfire songs and fun
songs, songs to sing on car trips to various outings, and songs to sing
when meetings are opening and closing, songs from different cultures,
and songs from the past�GS meetings are not complete without the girls
singing at least a few songs!
Arts and Crafts: This is my favorite. As a GS leader, I can plan
wonderful projects for the girls to do that I might not do in my own
home. We have painted, drawn with markers, crayons, pencils, and more.
We�ve weaved, sewn, tie dyed, painted t-shirt, made mobiles and
collages, gift baskets and ghosts out of tissue and lollypops. My girls
have made cards for all occasions, sock puppets, and made presents for
service projects (the nursing home and the homeless).
Service Projects: Service Projects are a vital part of the GS program.
Service projects help a girl to learn how she, as a single person or a
group, can have an effect upon this world. My girls have done the
following projects: fed the homeless, performed at nursing homes and
retirement communities, made tray decorations for Meals on Wheels,
collected food for a food bank, collected food, baby items, etc. for a
pregnant mom in need, adopted a family for Christmas (collected toys and
food and other items for a family in need), given gifts to various
community members at appropriate times (new baby, marriage, etc.), and
picked up trash in a park. Service projects can be endless and should be
stressed in the GS troop. The older the girls, the more intricate the
projects can be. Older girls can also be more involved in the planning
process and implementation.
Responsibility: In GS, girls learn responsibility: as they grow older
they take on increasingly difficult tasks in the management of the
troop, while the adults step back and become advisors.
Spiritual Training: Girl Scouts are not required to believe in God or a
higher power, as personal beliefs are not only respected but diversity
is valued in the program. A girl can omit any part of the GS promise or
law, as fits her personal belief system. The diverse environment helps
girls to see that there are many types of folks in this world and that
learning to get along with lots of different people and their
differences is valuable. A girl promises to be a sister to every scout,
regardless of race, religion, or any other category.
Patriotism: The GS allows a girl, if it does not interfere with her
personal belief system, to learn to be a good citizen for her country.
Girl Scouts is in almost every country in the world, and the GS
organization wants each girl to support her own country and be a good
citizen for that country. Flag ceremonies, reciting the pledge and other
forms of patriotism are encouraged but at no time is any girl forced to
participate in anything that makes her uncomfortable or goes against her
beliefs. This is good for ALL girls, allowing them to see that people
can do things a bit differently and still be Girl Scouts.
The �S� Word�Social Skills: Girl Scouts is a great place for girls to be
with girls, to make friends, especially with girls whom otherwise they
might not get to meet. We do not allow, in our troop, cliques or
groups�each girl works with all the girls. The older girls help the
younger, and they all try to get along�despite differences. Our troop is
very supportive, with an environment where the girls are encouraging and
loving to each other. The social skills learned in a good GS troop are
positive and valuable.
Field Trips: We have gone on a number of field trips, including Sea
World, San Diego Wild Animal Park, the musicals Cats and Seussical, our
year end trip at the local water park, Palm Springs and tram, an apple
farm to pick apples, museums, the Discovery Science Center, and more.
The list is of possible field trips is endless.
FUN! This is probably the most important part of the GS program. This is
a time for girls to come together and be with friends, to sing songs, to
engage in arts & crafts, to complete a badge and to help our neighbors.
As seriously as I take the GS program, as part of our lives and part of
our educational plan for our daughters, I never forget that fun is so
important. We laugh and hug and really love to be with each other, and
that is what GS is all about!
SandraDodd@... wrote:
>[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
> In a message dated 6/14/03 1:19:37 PM, joylyn@... writes:
>
> << Sandra, I don't have a problem putting it up but can you wait for the
>
> final draft, please? >>
>
> I can put the final on there when you want.
> Since your post was dated Friday and you said "tomorrow," I figured
> you were
> already gone to do the talk!
>
> Sandra
>
> Yahoo! Groups Sponsor
>
> <http://rd.yahoo.com/M=247865.3425083.4707139.1261774/D=egroupweb/S=1705542111:HM/A=1482387/R=0/SIG=16n3ruqj2/*http://ads.x10.com/?bHlhaG9vaG0xLmRhd=1055623813%3eM=247865.3425083.4707139.1261774/D=egroupweb/S=1705542111:HM/A=1482387/R=1=1055623813%3eM=247865.3425083.4707139.1261774/D=egroupweb/S=1705542111:HM/A=1482387/R=2>
>
>
>
> To unsubscribe from this group, send an email to:
> [email protected]
>
>
>
> Your use of Yahoo! Groups is subject to the Yahoo! Terms of Service
> <http://docs.yahoo.com/info/terms/>.
Michele Evard
hi joylyn,
thanks for sharing your conference experience and the handout. i knew boy
scouts discriminated, but didn't know that GS didn't before this. very
cool. i'd never heard of circle scouts, will have to go poke the web on
that one. :-)
michele
thanks for sharing your conference experience and the handout. i knew boy
scouts discriminated, but didn't know that GS didn't before this. very
cool. i'd never heard of circle scouts, will have to go poke the web on
that one. :-)
michele
Joylyn
yes, girl scouts and boy scouts are completely different organizations.
Most people don't know this.
Joylyn
Michele Evard wrote:
Most people don't know this.
Joylyn
Michele Evard wrote:
> hi joylyn,[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
>
> thanks for sharing your conference experience and the handout. i knew
> boy
> scouts discriminated, but didn't know that GS didn't before this. very
> cool. i'd never heard of circle scouts, will have to go poke the web on
> that one. :-)
>
> michele
>
>
> Yahoo! Groups Sponsor
> <http://rd.yahoo.com/M=251812.3170658.4537139.1261774/D=egroupweb/S=1705542111:HM/A=1564415/R=0/SIG=11t6t7kdo/*http://www.netflix.com/Default?mqso=60164784&partid=3170658>
>
>
>
> To unsubscribe from this group, send an email to:
> [email protected]
>
>
>
> Your use of Yahoo! Groups is subject to the Yahoo! Terms of Service
> <http://docs.yahoo.com/info/terms/>.
Betsy
** Unschooling is so hard
for people to get and I just dont' understand why.... And of course, one
woman I spoke with later said that of course it works NOW because my
kids are so young but by the time they were in middle school I would
have to do text books and worksheets with them, right? Uh, no...**
I would guess she thinks that young people won't learn Trigonometry and
Calculus from every day life.
Betsy
for people to get and I just dont' understand why.... And of course, one
woman I spoke with later said that of course it works NOW because my
kids are so young but by the time they were in middle school I would
have to do text books and worksheets with them, right? Uh, no...**
I would guess she thinks that young people won't learn Trigonometry and
Calculus from every day life.
Betsy
[email protected]
In a message dated 6/15/2003 12:59:50 AM Central Daylight Time,
joylyn@... writes:
I'm sad that it wasn't represented on the panel.
You did well, Joylyn. I know it wasn't easy.
Tuck
[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
joylyn@... writes:
> OneCamp Fire Camp Fire Camp Fire!
> woman said "so what do we do if we have boys and want them involved in
> an organization like boy scouts"
I'm sad that it wasn't represented on the panel.
You did well, Joylyn. I know it wasn't easy.
Tuck
[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
[email protected]
In a message dated 6/15/2003 7:09:17 AM Central Daylight Time,
mevard@... writes:
Tuck
[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
mevard@... writes:
> thanks for sharing your conference experience and the handout. i knew boyBut they discriminate against boys. ;)
> scouts discriminated, but didn't know that GS didn't before this. very
> cool. i'd never heard of circle scouts, will have to go poke the web on
> that one. :-)
>
Tuck
[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
[email protected]
In a message dated 6/15/2003 11:01:38 AM Central Daylight Time,
joylyn@... writes:
Camp Fire Girls was, in 1910. Girl Scouts was created in 1912.
Tuck
[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
joylyn@... writes:
> yes, girl scouts and boy scouts are completely different organizations.Girl Scouts was not created as the female counterpart to Boy Scouts, either.
> Most people don't know this.
>
Camp Fire Girls was, in 1910. Girl Scouts was created in 1912.
Tuck
[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
Joylyn
I have a tape of it, strangely enough. :-)
I'm sorry Camp Fire wasn't represented either.
Joylyn
Tuckervill@... wrote:
I'm sorry Camp Fire wasn't represented either.
Joylyn
Tuckervill@... wrote:
> In a message dated 6/15/2003 12:59:50 AM Central Daylight Time,[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
> joylyn@... writes:
>
> > One
> > woman said "so what do we do if we have boys and want them involved in
> > an organization like boy scouts"
>
> Camp Fire Camp Fire Camp Fire!
>
> I'm sad that it wasn't represented on the panel.
>
> You did well, Joylyn. I know it wasn't easy.
>
> Tuck
>
>
> [Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
>
>
> Yahoo! Groups Sponsor
> ADVERTISEMENT
> Click Here!
> <http://rd.yahoo.com/M=244522.3313099.4604523.1261774/D=egroupweb/S=1705542111:HM/A=1595056/R=0/SIG=124fv1soh/*http://ashnin.com/clk/muryutaitakenattogyo?YH=3313099&yhad=1595056>
>
>
>
> To unsubscribe from this group, send an email to:
> [email protected]
>
>
>
> Your use of Yahoo! Groups is subject to the Yahoo! Terms of Service
> <http://docs.yahoo.com/info/terms/>.
Joylyn
Not men thought, only boys. And we have sibling boys at our meetings
occassionally.
joylyn
Tuckervill@... wrote:
occassionally.
joylyn
Tuckervill@... wrote:
> In a message dated 6/15/2003 7:09:17 AM Central Daylight Time,[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
> mevard@... writes:
>
> > thanks for sharing your conference experience and the handout. i
> knew boy
> > scouts discriminated, but didn't know that GS didn't before this. very
> > cool. i'd never heard of circle scouts, will have to go poke the
> web on
> > that one. :-)
> >
>
> But they discriminate against boys. ;)
>
> Tuck
>
>
> [Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
>
>
> Yahoo! Groups Sponsor
> ADVERTISEMENT
> Click Here!
> <http://rd.yahoo.com/M=244522.3313099.4604523.1261774/D=egroupweb/S=1705542111:HM/A=1595056/R=0/SIG=124fv1soh/*http://ashnin.com/clk/muryutaitakenattogyo?YH=3313099&yhad=1595056>
>
>
>
> To unsubscribe from this group, send an email to:
> [email protected]
>
>
>
> Your use of Yahoo! Groups is subject to the Yahoo! Terms of Service
> <http://docs.yahoo.com/info/terms/>.