I don't know why you'd think it's a rich white people thing. Wealth has nothing to do with it. I guess blacks don't get into camping like white people do, but there's more to it than camping, and there are a lot of urban troops.
I'm sure there are parents out there who teach their kids all (or most, anyway) of what they can learn in scouting, but they're uncommon. If you're one of them, good for you. I'm not saying that all kids need scouting, but I think most can benefit.
I'm also not saying that all troops are ideal. Most aren't, come to think of it, but some do what they're supposed to do, and excel.
As far as religion goes, not all troops have any kind of religious orientation at all. I was in my troop for over twenty years, and I can count on one hand the number of religious servies or religious-themed activites we did. If a boy wanted to do that sort of thing, we were supportive, but through all the various leaders, we almost never suggested it.
What it boils down to, is that I was on the inside and on the front lines. I know what the organization is capable of, and it's a pretty damn good thing.
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Date: 2005-03-31 04:17 am (UTC)From:I'm sure there are parents out there who teach their kids all (or most, anyway) of what they can learn in scouting, but they're uncommon. If you're one of them, good for you. I'm not saying that all kids need scouting, but I think most can benefit.
I'm also not saying that all troops are ideal. Most aren't, come to think of it, but some do what they're supposed to do, and excel.
As far as religion goes, not all troops have any kind of religious orientation at all. I was in my troop for over twenty years, and I can count on one hand the number of religious servies or religious-themed activites we did. If a boy wanted to do that sort of thing, we were supportive, but through all the various leaders, we almost never suggested it.
What it boils down to, is that I was on the inside and on the front lines. I know what the organization is capable of, and it's a pretty damn good thing.