why are boy scouts looked down upon socially in american schools?

Question

see above

Answer 1

This is not a new phenomena- it was happening in the 40's, it happened to me in the 60's, and it happened to my son in the 90's.

Part of it is a weird phenomena whereby good people get labelled in what seems like a way to make the name-caller feel better about themselves. 'Nerds', for example, are smart kids who are decent people with skills, but not as socially confident as others. No real problem here, but they get a hurtful label stuck on them anyway.

Part of it is the uniform. Hard-core Scout leaders insist that the uniform is an important part of being a Scout. I have aways felt it made Scouts look different- and the almost universal reaction to someone looking different is fear, scorn, and ridicule.

Part of it is a society-wide issue. Movies and adult TV use the Scouts as the brunt of jokes. They are teased and usually treated as something a bit less than 'the rest of us'. How many POSITIVE Scout role models are there on TV?

When som guy is arrested, how often do you hear the comment 'ex-Scoutmasterso and so was arrested...'? Does nto matter if he has not been a Scout leader for a decade- it will show up in the report somewhere.



Scouts is not the only target. Regular church-goers, members of certain school clubs, etc. are all treated badly in most schools.

Answer 2

I don't know but it's a shame. Boy Scouts, at its core, is a great organization focused on building character and helping to develop responsible, well-rounded young men, get boys in touch with nature and keep them out of trouble among other things. Too bad more parents aren't willing to help get the programs going. Maybe if more people would get involved, it would be more "cool" (and also we wouldn't be seeing some of the problems with kids being taken advantage of by adults who are only looking fulfill some sick pleasure-- and those really are the minority but of course the most talked about.) Some scouts go on really awesome trips, mountain climbing and to other countries and heaven only knows what. If you could get in a group like that, you could tell those people who look down their nose at you, Guess what I go to do because of Boy Scouts? Unfortunately having good clean values isn't popular these days but I hope you won't let that deter you from being involved.

Answer 3

Because the Boy Scouts have been in perpetual legal problems relating to their intolerance of others.

It's their right to hold whatever opinions they want as a private group. But then they feel sleighted that the rest of the country doesn't hold those same values.

Answer 4

It's mostly about the scarves.

It doesn't really have to do with the boyscout's stance on gays or anyone else. It's more in the category of picking on nerds, or maybe the uniform reminds them too much of authority figures. I think they're also seen as teacher's pets types somewhat.

Answer 5

Because they look down upon gays