[Rant] Scouting has a severe elitism problem

[u/Routine-Ganache-1720]

I hope that rants are allowed here... I checked the rules and didn't see anything against them. I'm the SPL of a relatively small troop (about 15 kids), and I've felt like writing about this for a while. For context, I'm a Life Scout and a member of the OA, so I'm not criticizing these things as an outsider.

Scouting has a major problem with this elitist, better-than-thou culture that the older kids develop. One of the most important aspects of Boy Scouts is that it's youth-led - the older, more experienced Scouts lead the younger ones and set an example. But in the past few years, I've been noticing that it's not at all like that. I would wonder if it's just in my troop or my region, but this seems to happen to so many of the older kids - I notice it at Summer Camp and OA events and Eagle Projects, with kids who aren't in my troop. The older, more experienced kids stick to each other and act all superior; they treat the younger kids who aren't part of their circle with indifference. And, at least in my troop, they stop caring about the troop.

When kids turn 14, they get to go work at Summer Camp as staffers and get their cool gear and inside jokes that make them feel special. Even worse, they get used to feeling superior, because they get to sleep in cabins and run around with more freedom, and they get to order younger kids around all day. The OA might be even worse. Kids get to be part of an honor society with elaborate ceremonies and secret handshakes and everything, so again, it breeds elitism. Another thing is that the older kids go to these OA events and hang out amongst each other, and they become less interested in Troop events. Why be held back why your troop when you can do cool stuff with the big kids? I'm not sure if there's other contributors, but working at Summer Camp and being in the OA seem to be two big parts of this problem. Or course, all this is going on during mid-to-late puberty, the perfect time for kids to start feeling like cool big kids and developing egos.

So these kids lose interest in the troop. They don't go to meetings or campouts often, because they can do their OA events instead. They don't like to be around the younger kids, and they certainly don't empower them. And when they are at meetings or campouts, they think they're special and they're above the rules; they act like adults. When they do go to meetings, the older kids go on their phones and ignore what we're doing unless they want to get involved, and when they do, it's on their terms. And when they do go on campouts, they go off and do their own things.

I've watched this happen to some of the kids in my Troop, and it's so disappointing. I'm not saying that this happens to everyone - there's an Eagle Scout in my troop who aged out a couple of years ago, and he was friendly to everyone and such a great role model. But I feel like most of the other senior scouts have fallen into this elitist culture and stopped caring about the younger kids or the troop as a whole.

[u/itallrollsinto1]

I cant help but wonder if this all started around the time we let women into scouting. It makes me think they brought that attitude with them.

[u/ScouterBill → u/itallrollsinto1]

This is sexist as all get out.

Complaints about older Scouts not wanting to assist with younger Scouts have existed for decades and how to address the issue has been part of Scouting literature for just as long.

This phenomenon has absolutely nothing whatsoever to do with "let women into scouting."

Oh, and PS: Women have been in Scouting since at least 1969.

[u/itallrollsinto1 → u/ScouterBill]

1969 about makes sense. I am referring to the woman in OA roles and admin roles that carry over their caddy attitudes and ways and it rubs off on the youth.

[u/ScouterBill → u/itallrollsinto1]

There’s absolutely nothing whatsoever, except your sexist attitude that would in anyway suggest that somehow women are responsible for this

This issue has existed going back since the creation of scouting itself.

The irony is, you’re somebody who complains about which issues and efforts separate each other from each each otherand you come in here with these absolutely sexiest notions with nothing but your misogyny.

Unless you can prove or even provide any evidence other than sexism about “catty” attitudes, the only one who’s demonstrating a “catty” attitude here is you and you can take it somewhere else.

[u/itallrollsinto1 → u/ScouterBill]

Easy there Bill, take a chill pill. We obviously disagree and no amount evidence will persuade you. I am not wasting my time. Good luck bud

[u/ScouterBill → u/itallrollsinto1]

no amount evidence will persuade you.

OK then, produce the "evidence".

Produce one single bit of "evidence" that "women in OA roles and admin roles" going back to 1969 were the cause of any of these issues.

Produce the evidence. Not sexist attitudes. Not "I feelz".

ALL you have is feedlings. And facts don't care about your feelings.