In the latest sign that the world as we know it is falling apart, the Girl Guides (Britain's version of the Girl Scouts) have announced that members will now be able to earn merit badges in subjects such as safe sex, alcoholism and reducing their carbon footprint.  The program, called "Get Wise", started with the topic of safe sex earlier this year, and has since broadened its horizons.  It covers Guides (aged 10-14) as well as the organization's Senior Section (aged 14-25).

Those of you who tend to agree with my views on the world are probably hoping that this is some sort of sick joke, but, alas, it was important enough to be reported in The Times of London earlier this year, and was in the news again yesterday when the merit badge program was announced.

Is anyone else's head spinning?  Is one of the oldest and most respected youth organizations in the world really spoon-feeding a leftist agenda to 10 year olds?  Unabashedly and unapologetically so.  Listen to how Denise King, CEO of Girlguiding UK describes the program:

“There is no point pretending that all of these things don’t happen to Girl Guides and that they all wear white knee socks. We are part of society, not apart from it. Girl Guides aren’t the goody-goodies any more. They are just the regular young women of the day. They have told us that these are the issues that are relevant to their lives.”

Excuse me?!  The "regular young women of the day"?  When did a sexually active 10 year old become a "regular young woman?"  I don't know what I have a bigger problem with, the atrocity of the program itself, or the fact that the people running it refuse to make value judgments.  You see, Ms. King goes on to say, "the education sessions are not about telling the girls not to have under-age sex or not to drink.  We are trying to support the girls and young women to find things out for themselves.  We want to give them the confidence to make decisions for themselves."  My question to her would be, why AREN'T you telling them not to do these things?  By not DIScouraging this behavior, you are ENcouraging the behavior!  There is no neutral position on any of these issues, nor can there be. 

Children need direction, NOT free discussion.  I'd wager that many of the people in support of the Guide "program" also support the British Government regulating what is served in British school cafeterias, and rightly so.  Why?  It's common sense!  Given the choice, children are NOT going to choose what is best for themselves.  Think like a 10 year old...  "Hmmm... do I want the rice pilaf or 5 Mars Bars for lunch?"  Which choice do you think wins out in the mind of a 10 year old?  Why?Children don't understand long-term consequences, nor should they!  Wisdom is born of experience, and at 10 years old, the majority of your experience has been producing drool and learning to poop in the right place.

Regardless of what Ms. King and her associates claim their intentions to be, these are still children.  Children, especially those under the age of 16, are not equipped to make decisions for themselves.  That's why we have an age of majority, and laws that protect those who have not yet reached it.  If you merely have valueless discussions with children in an attempt to teach confidence, you'll end up with nothng but confident kids making bad decisions.

The only thing that's true in Ms. King's belief system is that kids WILL be faced with these critical issues, and at an earlier age than ever before.  What they need is parents to teach them how to react when the critical issues arise, not older children justifying their own bad decisions in a valueless forum.  Absent responsible parents, kids will look to the Girl Guides (and other groups like it) to provide them with leadership and role models.  It's time for the Guides to own up to this reality and accept their responsibilities, rather than pretend there are no correct decisions to life's tempting choices.

Now, if you'll excuse me, it's time for some rice pilaf.


Copyright 2007, Peter Citera