DOE places restrictions on Boy Scouts program
By Curtis Lum
Advertiser Staff Writer
The Department of Education has placed restrictions on a popular Boy Scouts program in public schools after two groups complained about the Scout Oath's reference to God, as well as the organization's anti-gay policy.
Although Boy Scouts activities during school hours will be curtailed, the organization will be allowed to continue its Learning for Life program. The Aloha Council of the Boy Scouts of America has conducted the program in about 50 public schools for more than 25 years.
Last year nearly 12,000 elementary and middle school students took part in the co-ed program, which focuses on the importance of character, citizenship, personal fitness, respect and values. Learning for Life is a once-a-week program that also includes an outing at the Boy Scouts' Pupukea campground.
But two citizens groups recently filed protests with the Department of Education and called for the program to be eliminated. Hawai'i Citizens for the Separation of State and Church, and Scouting for All, objected to the Boy Scouts' use of class time to promote its faith-based principles and to recruit potential scouts.
The groups also pointed to the Boy Scouts' national policy of prohibiting homosexuals from serving as adult leaders as a violation of the department's policy against discrimination. They said use of the Scout Oath during the Learning for Life program also violated the separation of church and state because it requires a promise from students to do their "duty to God."
In a memo to school principals, DOE Superintendent Pat Hamamoto agreed that certain aspects of the program "do not comport with the law or policies of the Board of Education." But Hamamoto said the Learning for Life position statement does not restrict participation based on color, race, religion, gender, sexual orientation, citizenship or economic status.
Rather than eliminate the program, Hamamoto instituted several restrictions. They include voluntary participation by students, a ban on recruiting during the school day and a prohibition against the use of the Scout Oath.
Hamamoto also said student participation in a Boy Scouts survey on career interests also shall be voluntary. She added that personal information on the survey should contain no more than the student's name and address.
Michael Golojuch Jr., spokesman for Scouting for All in Hawai'i, said he was pleased that Hamamoto acknowledged that certain Boy Scout practices were unacceptable. But he had hoped that Learning for Life would have been eliminated from public schools.
"They believe it's OK to discriminate," Golojuch said of the Scouts, "If that's the character building that they're teaching, we don't need that in our public schools."
Scouting for All is a national, nonprofit group that was created because of the Scouts' policy against gays.
Tim Thomton of the Aloha Council of the Boy Scouts said the restrictions "aren't going to hinder us." He said the oath was never mandatory and easily can be eliminated from the program.
Thomton said the Boy Scouts used to visit classrooms or hold small assemblies to share the Scouting experience and those activities also will be dropped. But like any other nonprofit group, he said, the Scouts will be able to pass out brochures at the schools.
Department of Education spokesman Greg Knudsen said the department has no objection to the program but said the Scouts may have crossed the line on the oath and recruitment issues.
"The Boy Scouts as an organization should have no greater access to our schools for recruiting during the day," he said. "That kind of thing would not be permitted among other private organizations."
