Girl Scouts unfairly give “goth” troop leader the axe
The above-video shows Girl Scouts reciting the Girl Scout Law.
The Huffington Post reports that earlier this month,
The Girl Scouts removed the mom as troop leader because Ms. Hintz sent a Girl Scout email to parents that included a link to her husband’s goth website (presumably as part of her signature line).
I get it. The Girl Scouts aren’t goth and they don’t want to be associated with any subculture’s website. Including a link to the website on her girl scout email was careless at best, stupid at worst.
But the Girl Scout’s reaction makes no sense. It is disproportionate to the mistake. It is inconsistent with their “law,” and looks narrow-minded and petty.
Let’s see how the Girl Scout’s action comports with the Girl Scout Law:
- I will do my best to be honest and fair — Not so much. Fair would be informing Ms. Hintz of their concerns and asking her to remove the link from her Girl Scout emails. Honest would be telling the truth about why the Girl Scouts removed Ms. Hintz. They didn’t remove her because they didn’t like her signature line. They removed her because they don’t like that she is involved with a subculture.
- friendly and helpful — Well, not so much.
- considerate and caring — Apparently, only if the people are just like you.
- courageous and strong — I don’t think the Girl Scouts’ actions here could be viewed in way courageous. But they certainly are a strong organization, one that I’m afraid to cross. But more like a bully.
- responsible for what I say and do — The Girl Scouts haven’t copped to all the free publicity they have given Wisconsinsickness.com, the goth website at issue, this month. Nor do they seem to want to accept any blame for how out of hand this dispute has become. It takes two to tango.
- respect myself and others — As long as they are just like me.
- respect authority — As long as the authority is the Girl Scouts
- use resources wisely — Even if it means wasting time and money to fight silly battles.
- make the world a better place — For people just like them.
- be a sister to every Girl Scout — Well, almost every Girl Scout
Here is the thing — few moms want to be troop leader. It is a ton of work and time. You have to deal with a lot of annoying moms who think there is a better way to do everything even though they aren’t willing to commit to the position.
I’m not crazy about Ms. Hintz’s use of YouTube to discuss her situation (she must have posted at least a dozen videos) and I have no clue as to whether she was a good troop leader.
But she seems articulate, well-meaning, and passionate about the Scouts and her role as troop leader. This entire situation is sad and such a waste of time.
I can’t help but feel bad for the kids that have to watch all these adults act like such idiots.
Lyrics at this link
Tiny top hat tip — Matthew S.
Siouxsie Law 
I thought the Girl Scouts were more open minded than this. I guess not.
I’m not suprised. When I was in the girl scouts I was bullied for the entire year I was part of it. And I was only 8 and had no conection to goth or any subculture. They are still human and will have the same prejudice no matter what organization they belong to. Kids can be just as cruel as adults.
I agree with you that they should have given her a warning to remove the tag from the emails and if they are going to enforce that, they should to any scout leader that would do the same that promote their personal websites. I only glanced at the website in question and have to say while I understand it might be too much for grade schoolers to handle, so are most episodes of “Law and Order SVU” or “CSI”, both of which are are basic television and have many fans that have websites or fan fiction and promote them. They need to be consistent in where they choose to draw their lines in the sand.
“They need to be consistent in where they choose to draw their lines in the sand.”
Exactly. Or at least admit that they are tolerant of difference.
In the UK we have Girl Guides rather than scouts. I was a member when I was much younger and a very good friend of mine was basically told to go home and not come back until she dressed more appropriately. The outfit in question was not particularly outrageous, not revealing and certainly not inappropriate for our age. I didn’t find out about this ’til many years later but it just came across as we don’t like you and you being goth is a convenient way to get rid of you.
Funnily enough she is the only person I am still in touch with from that group and now one of my best friends. This really doesn’t surprise me.
I was a UK Girl Guide for a bit, but I found the girls in my troop too cliquish and there was too much emphasis on cookery and handicrafts. I was a Guide when they were just introducing the idea of having mixed Scouting – you can now be a Girl Scout in this country too, and they have a stronger lean towards outdoor activities. I really wish I could have joined the Scouts rather than the Guides, but I was advised to become a Guide because there weren’t any other girls from my village interested in being a Scout at that time.