The Scouts' famous motto of "be prepared" is being expanded to ensure young members know all about sex.
Under a set of new guidelines to be unveiled on Monday, scouts will be taught about contraception, pregnancy tests and what to do if they believe they are being forced to have sex.
Scouts will also be taken on visits to sexual health clinics and given free condoms on trips.
While the new measures have outraged some traditionalists, the Scout Association argues they will help members resist peer pressure to start having sex before they are ready.
"We must be realistic and accept that around a third of young people are sexually active before 16 and many more start relationships at 16 and 17," chief scout Peter Duncan said.
"Scouting touches members of every community, religious and social group in the country so adults in scouting have a duty to promote safe and responsible relationships and, as an organisation, we have the responsibility to provide sound advice about how to do that.
"There are about 400,000 scouts in Britain, 85 per cent of whom are boys.
But the new measures have alarmed some critics, who claim they will only encourage young scouts to have sex.
"This is not what parents expect of the Scout Association," Conservative MP Ann Widdecombe told The Daily Telegraph.
"They are sending their children off to a leisure activity, not for sex education.
"This is a matter for parents and they already find their role usurped by schools.
"Chairman of pressure group Parents Outloud Margaret Morrissey, chairman of pressure group, Parents Outloud accused the Scout Association of "trying to be politically correct".
"The last people you would expect to be making children sexually aware is the boy scouts," she told the Daily Mail.
"All the signs are that political correctness has got us in the situation we're in now where young people are trying to grow up too soon and can't cope with it.
"They're confused and do things they probably wouldn't have done if they hadn't had that information in the first place."
Source: The Sydney Morning Herald, Monday, 20th October 2008
Sunday, October 26, 2008
12th Jamboree On The Internet 2008
JOTA-JOTI 2008: The Secretary General’s Closing Message
Dear Friends,
Over the week end, over half-a-million of you have gatherered on the air, during the 51st JOTA, and via the Internet for the 12th JOTI. Once again, the Scout Movement has demonstrated its capability to open space for dialogue and mutual recognition, to young people of all nations, regardless of culture, religion or race. Through the adherence to its values and principles, the Movement has shown how it jumps over obstacles and barriers, at least geographical ones.
Empowering young people by using communication technology is an important step to learn how to explore the world. Innovative by nature, Scouting uses technologies to pursue its educational mission.
About 3000 Scouts played the World Scout Challenge to debate themes related to peace, environment and Rover Scouts. I encourage them to deepen this exploration - to “be prepared” to engage in their communities.
During two days, the World Scout Bureau operated from the Scouts of Geneva’s Centre, in Switzerland. My congratulations go to the organisers and I warmly thank you all the national coordinators and volunteers for the enthusiasm they put in going around the world in 48 hours.
Luc Panissod
Acting Secretary General
Acting Secretary General
World Organization of the Scout Movement
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