MDSC Survey Available
The Mount Diablo Silverado Council has issued its survey to hear your opinions on the BSA's membership policy.
The survey is open to Scouts, Registered Adults, Unit Leaders, and Charter Organizations who are members of MDSC.
The Council's database of email addresses may not have everyone in your unit, as several people - myself included - did not receive the original email. Check with others including unit leaders to make sure everyone in your troop who is registered received the survey.
If you did not receive an e-mail with the survey you may request one by sending an e-mail to:
survey@bsa-mdsc.org
You should also request an e-mail for your scout if he did not receive one.
Certainly the survey is suitable for high school aged scouts and adults without any further comment.
For parents with younger (middle school) scouts, reviewing the subject with your scout before showing them the survey would be appropriate. We may be the only Council in the country to survey middle school aged scouts and your co-operation is important.
This would also be a good opportunity to talk to your scout about bullying.
Bullying resources are available here:
California Department of Education - bullying resources
Anti-Gay bullying also effects students who are perceived as gay or just "different". Every child has a right to bully-free environment.
Lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) teens in the U.S. experience homophobic remarks and harassment throughout the school day, creating an atmosphere where they feel disrespected, unwanted and unsafe. GLSEN's 2007 National School Climate Survey found that three-quarters of LGBT teens hear slurs such as "faggot" or "dyke" frequently or often at school, and nine in ten report hearing anti-LGBT language frequently or often. Homophobic remarks such as "that's so gay" are the most commonly heard type of biased remarks at school. Research shows that these slurs are often unintentional and are a part of teens' vernacular. Most do not recognize the consequences, but the casual use of this language often carries over into more overt harassment.
Studies indicate that students who regularly experience verbal and non-verbal forms of harassment suffer from emotional turmoil, low self-esteem, loneliness, depression, poor academic achievement and high rates of absenteeism. Research also shows that many of the bystanders to acts of harassment experience feelings of helplessness and powerlessness, and develop poor coping and problem-solving skills. Clearly, homophobic and all types of harassment-and the toxic effects they produce-are whole school problems that all educators must confront.
To address this disconcerting reality, GLSEN, together with The Ad Council, has created the first national multimedia public service advertising (PSA) campaign designed to address the use of anti-LGBT language among teens. The campaign aims to raise awareness among straight teens about the prevalence and consequences of anti-LGBT bias and behavior in America's schools. Ultimately, the goal is to reduce and prevent the use of homophobic language in an effort to create a more positive environment for LGBT teens. The campaign also aims to reach adults, including school personnel and parents, because their support of this message is crucial to the success of efforts to change behavior among the target age group.
More information is available here:
Anti Bullying Information
Best Regards,
Wendell Baker
(Scouts for Equality - Golden Gate)
