Supporting Scouts

I was a Girl Scout leader for 10 years. Started out with a regular troop and ended up having an all-homeschooled group a few years later. I enjoyed both troops, although the homeschooled group was my favorite.

The kids were very different between the two groups, I wrote about it here and here. Other places, too. I've had a fun little trip down memory lane this morning while reading about all that, actually.

I have fond memories of the kids, but I love most kids, so that's not surprising. The moms from the first group were not my favorite people, but I didn't hate them. I'm almost certain we hail from different planets, though.

The parents in the homeschool group were so involved in everything we did, and were always willing to step up and do whatever needed to be done. The parents of the mostly public school troop were the drop-off-and-run variety, they couldn't wait to get away. 

Don't misunderstand, though. The public schooling parents were nice people. They loved their kids. They just weren't accustomed to being part of things where their daughters were concerned. Kind of sad, but understandable. The school system trains parents out of being the primary influence on their children pretty fast.

Wait. What was I going to say here? I have already drifted away from the topic. Which I do frequently and well. And yet you're still here, reading.

A Girl Scout troop meets in our school cafeteria.

They didn't start off high in my estimation. During their evening informational meeting, which I didn't know about ahead of time so I could put things away, the families and siblings and prospective girl scouts seemed to think MY STUFF had been left out for them! They helped themselves to the dollhouse, the stuffies, the LEGO... stuff was everywhere when I came in the next morning. Apparently putting away the stuff they helped themselves to without anyone's permission after they got them out was a strange concept.

When I saw the mess they'd left, I was pissed off. I talked to the office staff about it. While we were talking, Tracy, the parent committee president said, "Oh yes, I heard that woman say, 'Oh I didn't know there would be TOYS!' as I was walking through the cafeteria."

I wanted to ask her why she hadn't said something, but figured there was no point in doing so after everything had already been messed with. The principal wasn't a happy guy, though. He told me that he'd called GS council and let them know that the informational session had overstepped their bounds. He told them that they were to stay at the end of the cafeteria nearest the doors and that the stuff belonging to Mental Daycare needed to be left alone.

I had an opportunity to talk with the leader after they started their Wednesday evening meetings. She assured me that she'd had a conversation with her girls and that they knew to be respectful of our school and my stuff.

"We just stay down here at this end of the cafeteria," she said cheerfully. "We've had a discussion of rules and respect."

Meanwhile, her daughter was taking off her shoes and socks, bouncing around like Tigger and twirling to admire her dress. While I was finishing up paperwork etc, some of the rest of the gang started to show. They were all bouncy and excited and zipping around like, well, kids. They were at their end of the room, but I wasn't sure they'd stay there after I left.

So although the mom/leader person seemed nice enough, I wasn't confident that she really had things under control, so I started making sure all our stuff is carefully stowed on Wednesday evenings before I go home. All the assurances in the world won't replace things that I paid for myself, ya know?

And although my employer will buy the things I ask for, I have many things that can't be replaced easily if at all. So my stuff is packed/bundled up and I can come home and not have to worry on Wednesdays.

A few weeks after that, the troop was doing a clay project. I knew that because the mom was getting the clay out as I was leaving.

The next morning, our kitchen staff was mystified about all the little white handprints on the stainless steel surfaces around the sink and food prep areas. The kitchen lead person came and asked me if I had let my kids use the sink.

I said that I don't allow my kids anywhere near the kitchen. So she was telling me about the handprints and the mess about the same time the custodian came to show me white handprints and smears across the two cafeteria tables at the other end of the room.

I told them both about the clay project from the night before.
Once again our principal was not a happy guy. He notified GS council that this group had only one more chance. He explained what had happened.

So strange, as there are three bathrooms accessible to kids from that location and instead of sending her kids there, she had let them use the kitchen.

She just seems... oblivious.

But this week I stayed a little later, I'm packing up (again) to move all my stuff from my site. The leader and her daughter showed up early. I let them in.

First thing, the little girl took off her shoes and socks. In a school cafeteria. Then she climbed up on a table and ran the length of it barefoot. Next, she put her butt on the table top and scooted across to the other side where she jumped off and ran around some more, then climbed on another table. I remarked to her, "People eat there, you know." and she jumped off from the top of the table.

She ran down into the storage tunnel. There are asbestos warnings as well as industrial cleaners, old furniture, old books... this and that. It's a huge sprawling space, and off limits to kids, period.

While her mom set up a craft project, she ran barefoot in and out of the tunnel. In and out and in and out and back in again. Barefoot. BAREFOOT!!!

I said to the mom, "That's really not a safe place for kids," and she looked at me like I was an idiot. "I'm sure she's fine," she told me. She turned back to her big shopping bags and started taking things out again.

I gave up and left. What the hell, my stuff was already put away.

But I visited the principal on Thursday morning and told him everything I'd seen.
The troop has two meetings left. And guess who isn't going to be allowed to meet in our new school building?

Yep, I was instrumental in getting a Girl Scout troop banned from our school.

I don't even feel bad. As a leader, I would never have allowed my kids to behave that way. And in my work life I am very aware that I am a guest inside the school. Yeah, they're nice to me there. And my badge gets me in the doors. And I have the alarm codes. But I'm still a guest and I behave like one. What the hell is wrong with people? Doesn't anyone have manners anymore???

Sheesh.