Parent Disagrees With Scouts Recruiting in Summit

A Franklin Elementary School parent contacted Patch to voice dissaproval about recruiting efforts for second grade Cub Scouts at the school.

The parent, who didn't want her name used, but who is involved with her PTO and other organizations, shared her response to a recent letter to Franklin parents from Cub Scouts organizers.

We are extremely opposed to the Boy Scouts Organization and I find it extremely inappropriate that you are doing such widespread canvassing under the auspices of a public school.

The parent wrote the response to Franklin School officials as well. According to the Cub Scouts' letter, a schoolwide annoucement was planned for today calling all interested students to the cafeteria for a Cub Scouts information session.

The parent wrote a second email addressed to school officials explaining her concerns:

I am wondering about the legality of using a public school PA system to make announcements about groups such as the Boy Scouts, as well as questioning the permissibility of the filtering they've been allowed to do.  

I find this extremely problematic given the BSA's recent sexual misconduct allegations as well as their long history of discrimination.

The Boy Scouts of American have recently come under fire after media reports that the group allegedly hid reported cases of child abuse. BSA leaders released a response to the Los Angeles Times investigation according to this USA Today article. The organization's letter "outlined the Scouts' safety procedures, which include criminal background checks and training that focuses on how to to recognize, resist and report suspected abuse.

It also describes its 'two-deep leadership policy,' which requires two adults to be present at all activities, and says that no Scout should be alone with a leader," according to the article.

Cub scouts "must register with the Boy Scouts council," according to the letter to Franklin parents. The Boy Scouts organization has also made recent headlines for upholding its policy against including gay members, as reported in the New York Times and Huffington Post.

What do you think about Cub Scouts organizing in Summit Public Schools in light of recent reports in the national media? Let us know in the comments or email your thoughts.