Scouting out a Progressive Role Model: Here Come the Girl Scouts! Mary Cushman
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Social Studies and the Young Learner 26 (3), pp. 19–21 ©2014 National Council for the Social Studies Scouting Out a Progressive Role Model: Here Come the Girl Scouts! Mary Cushman Juliette Low. The name her family’s wealth, she became seriously ill from malnutrition still rang a bell, even when food supplies were scarce at the end of the Civil War.3 though forty years had Shana Corey mentions Low’s ear problems (she had periods passed since I last wore of acute pain, and was nearly deaf much of her adult life4), but my Scout uniform with she downplays them by merely including a humorous excerpt its sash of badges. But it from a postcard that Daisy sent to her mother: “Progress, Daisy’s wasn’t until I read Shana Hearing. February 1st, heard a fog horn. March 1st, hearing Corey’s picture book, improved, heard a camel when it rose. April 1st, hearing decid- Here Come the Girl edly improved. Heard … grass growing” (8–9). It would be Scouts! 1 that I discov- worth recalling for children that Daisy lived at a time when ered what an interesting, pain medications were few, and antibiotics (which can cure unusual woman “Daisy” most inner ear infections) had not been discovered. Low was and became inspired to learn more A Love of Travel about this founder of the Corey tells of Low’s exciting travels over the course of her life: Girl Scouts. This 2013 “She rode elephants in India, visited the Great Pyramid in NCSS Notable Trade Book is probably best for kindergarten Egypt, went fishing during fancy dinner parties, and even flew through second graders, but Juliette Gordon Low is a woman in a monoplane” (10–11). In 1886, Low married a wealthy who merits attention from older children as well.2 She holds a Englishman, and, while they took one “exotic” trip to Egypt unique position in women’s history as someone who influenced together, most of her travel seems to have been an escape from girls worldwide, not simply by being a role model for them, her unhappy, childless marriage. Her husband died in 1905, but by actually expanding their horizons while they were still leaving his estate to his mistress, but a year and a half later Low girls. won a settlement that included the couple’s home in Savannah.5 The subtitle of Corey’s book on Girl Scouts, The Amazing Though not having children of her own disappointed Low All-True Story of Juliette “Daisy” Gordon Low and Her Great greatly, it also gave her independence and freedom. She was not Adventure, describes Low’s life as one of excitement, boldness, content with travel and personal adventures, however. Corey and fun. These qualities appeal to young children and reflect recounts, the parts of Low’s life that influenced her quest to start the Girl Scouts. Low’s childhood nickname, Daisy, stuck with her After many years, though, Daisy grew restless. Her family throughout her life. In 1984, when the Girl Scouts of America had settled towns and served in wars, written books and started a new scouting level for kindergarten and first graders, built railroads. Daisy wanted more than adventure. She it seems a natural choice to have called it Daisies. wanted to be useful, to make a difference in the world. The illustrations, by Hadley Cooper, support Corey’s descrip- But what could SHE do? (12)6 tion of Daisy Low as a “girl with gumption.” The first illustration shows Daisy outside holding a fishing rod, the second has her The Idea for the Girl Scouts hanging upside-down from a tree, and the third finds her lying Corey begins her answer to this question by speaking gener- on the grass with her legs in the air, balancing a cat on her feet. ally of Daisy’s discovery of the Boy Scouts in England. At a In these, and in every other picture of Daisy in the book, she luncheon in the spring of 1911, Daisy sat next to a famous and is smiling. highly decorated officer, General Sir Robert Baden-Powell. A more complete reckoning of Low’s life would include a This meeting changed Daisy’s life. She was fascinated to hear description of some of the suffering she endured. Born in 1860, about Baden-Powell’s Boy Scout organization, founded three Low lived comfortably in Savannah, Georgia; however, despite years earlier, in which boys learned outdoor skills, strengthened January / February 2014 19 their characters, and became more responsible citizens, all while Scouts to be open to lots of different girls, so she organized also having some fun. Baden-Powell’s sister led the Girl Guides, troops in private schools and in orphanages, in churches and which was created the following year due to popular demand.7 in synagogues, in factories and in shops” (20). Though Low Daisy’s friendship with both brother and sister developed was not connected to the leaders of the Progressive Era, she rapidly, as did her enthusiasm for Scouting. Here might be a embraced progressive ideas; she fervently believed that girls way for her to serve that would suit her. from all backgrounds should learn practical and useful skills While on vacation in Scotland in the summer of 1911, she in order to be self-reliant. started a group of Girl Guides. As leader of this collection of Daisy’s sense of civic duty most likely arose from other poor rural girls, Low taught them aspects of her upbringing that are, domestic skills, which Daisy first unfortunately, not mentioned in taught herself, having grown up this book. When she was sixteen, with servants usually doing such both of her parents helped victims work. Girls and young women of yellow fever. While still a teen, could use these skills to make Daisy herself started a club called money, thereby avoiding work Helpful Hands, with the goal of in poorly run factories in cities. aiding others, although an unsuc- These skills included how to raise cessful attempt to sew clothing for healthy chickens and how to card some needy children soon earned and spin wool. Upon returning to the club the nickname, “Helpless London that fall, Daisy started two Hands.”11 new “patrols,” one of which came from a poor and dangerous part of Learning AND Fun the city.8 In early January, Low and Low agreed with Baden-Powell Baden-Powell sailed to America, that, along with the learning and where he looked forward to visit- helping, Scouting needed to be ing existing Boy Scouts, and she fun and exciting. Here Come the hoped to start the country’s first Girl Scouts! describes a wonderful group of Girl Guides. Low reached camping trip that Low organized: out to her cousin, Nina Pape, an “The Girl Scouts … took an oyster educator who advocated physical boat to an island near Savannah. fitness training and nature walks They sang songs around the camp- for girls.9 With her characteristic fire. They feasted on fish and corn- enthusiasm, Low shared her plans bread and turtle eggs. At night, they with her cousin: “Come right over! The first Girl Scout Handbook in the United States, 1913 tiptoed out of their tents and slept I’ve got something for the girls of under the stars” (27). Earlier in the Savannah and all America and all the world and we’re going book Corey shows half a dozen skills described in the first to start it tonight!”10 edition of the Girl Scout handbook, including how to secure a burglar with eight inches of cord, how to cure a ham, and how “Girls Could Do Anything” to stop a runaway horse (22–23). Learning these particular By March 12, 1912, only ten months after her initial meeting skills was certainly not part of my Girl Scout experience, but I with Baden-Powell, Daisy Low held her first gathering of girls. remember poring over my handbooks and having a great time Corey describes Daisy’s “biggest adventure yet”: camping with my friends and earning badges, including Outdoor Cook, Cyclist, and Toymaker. Corey names Cyclist as one of She invited eighteen girls to the first Girl Scout meeting. the original Girl Scout badges, and also includes illustrations of She told them about all the adventures they would the Pioneer, Interpreter, and Flyer badges. Undoubtedly, Girl have. They’d hike and camp and swim! They’d do Scouts would not have remained popular for over a century good deeds. They’d learn to tie knots and survive in without Daisy Low’s legacy of making fun an integral part of the wilderness and even save lives! The girls thought the Scouting experience. Daisy’s idea was brilliant!”(16) Corey goes on to tell of the activities of those first Girl Scouts Using the Book in the Classroom and relates Low’s successes as she traveled around the country The “birthday” of Girl Scouts falls conveniently near the and the world, spreading her mission of Girl Scouts and her middle of Women’s History Month, on March 12, so Corey’s belief that “girls could do anything” (35). Her organization was book is a good fit in a study of significant women. Of course, a model of inclusiveness from the start: “Daisy wanted the Girl the book need not be used only during that month. Daisy 20 Social Studies and the Young Learner Low’s birthday is on Halloween, and children may remem- laws. Were they more similar or different at their inception? ber her more vividly if they hear about her on one of their Are they more similar or different in 2014? favorite holidays.