# Nervous about girl scout troop leader **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [May 18, 2012, 10:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nervous-about-girl-scout-troop-leader/622372 "2012-05-18T22:56:02Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Palo\_Verde](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/65b543/32.png) [@Palo\_Verde](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Palo_Verde)\ **Post date:** [May 18, 2012, 10:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nervous-about-girl-scout-troop-leader/622372/1 "2012-05-18T22:56:02Z")
My daughter recently joined a girl scout troop and is enjoying the camaraderie and activities. My concern comes from the first email sent by the group leader. Like a lot of people her signature is generated automatically and has her work info on it. It turns out her job is to psychically communicate with angels. So she tells people about which angels are assisting or protecting them. When I asked about it, she said she only does that part time, and the other part she does UFO research. Now I’m a bit concerned. Will she teach my daughter this ridiculous woo? Would you mind someone like this working with your child on a regular basis. ---
**Author:** ![Maggie\_the\_Ocelot](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/df705f/32.png) [@Maggie\_the\_Ocelot](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Maggie_the_Ocelot)\ **Post date:** [May 18, 2012, 10:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nervous-about-girl-scout-troop-leader/622372/2 "2012-05-18T22:56:57Z")
It depends on the angles. Are they acute (heavenly) or obtuse (fallen)? ---
**Author:** ![IvoryTowerDenizen](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ivorytowerdenizen/32/17937_2.png) [@IvoryTowerDenizen](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/IvoryTowerDenizen)\ **Post date:** [May 18, 2012, 10:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nervous-about-girl-scout-troop-leader/622372/3 "2012-05-18T22:57:40Z")
Angles? ---
**Author:** ![Giles](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/giles/32/60_2.png) [@Giles](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Giles)\ **Post date:** [May 18, 2012, 10:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nervous-about-girl-scout-troop-leader/622372/4 "2012-05-18T22:58:09Z")
Are the angles acute or obtuse? If they are right angles, I think it would be fine. ETA: Beaten by **Maggie the Ocelot**! ---
**Author:** ![Palo\_Verde](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/65b543/32.png) [@Palo\_Verde](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Palo_Verde)\ **Post date:** [May 18, 2012, 11:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nervous-about-girl-scout-troop-leader/622372/5 "2012-05-18T23:01:51Z")
No more angles jokes, I fixed it! ---
**Author:** ![malkavia](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/malkavia/32/5621_2.png) [@malkavia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/malkavia)\ **Post date:** [May 18, 2012, 11:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nervous-about-girl-scout-troop-leader/622372/6 "2012-05-18T23:04:21Z")
To me this is truly not much different than finding out that one of my child’s teachers is Catholic or Muslim or believes in horoscopes. Our children are regularly exposed to people with beliefs that you and I might consider wacko with little to no ill effect. I would just be sure to speak openly with your daughter about what is is that the scout leader believes, give her your reasoning for not believing in such things and let her make her own call. If the daughter keeps coming back with tales of being asked to participate in, um, angel conjuring?, then I’d probably find a different activity for her. ---
**Author:** ![Ethilrist](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ethilrist/32/4604_2.png) [@Ethilrist](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ethilrist)\ **Post date:** [May 18, 2012, 11:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nervous-about-girl-scout-troop-leader/622372/7 "2012-05-18T23:06:12Z")
Do they provide dental? ---
**Author:** ![IvoryTowerDenizen](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ivorytowerdenizen/32/17937_2.png) [@IvoryTowerDenizen](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/IvoryTowerDenizen)\ **Post date:** [May 18, 2012, 11:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nervous-about-girl-scout-troop-leader/622372/8 "2012-05-18T23:08:52Z")
> [@Palo\_Verde](#): > > No more angles jokes, I fixed it! Darn. I thought the jokes were acute. 😃 I wouldn’t sweat it (as a former leader myself), most of the time is busy and not sitting around chatting about belief systems. ---
**Author:** ![Blackberry](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/ecd19e/32.png) [@Blackberry](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Blackberry)\ **Post date:** [May 18, 2012, 11:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nervous-about-girl-scout-troop-leader/622372/9 "2012-05-18T23:22:58Z")
I’m curious what an angel-communicator’s work sig says. ---
**Author:** ![Palo\_Verde](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/65b543/32.png) [@Palo\_Verde](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Palo_Verde)\ **Post date:** [May 18, 2012, 11:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nervous-about-girl-scout-troop-leader/622372/10 "2012-05-18T23:36:21Z")
It says this: > [@](#): > > Angel Therapy Practitioner™, Medium, and Professional Spiritual Teacher certified by Doreen Virtue, PhD. > Reiki with Angels Master Teacher ---
**Author:** ![IvoryTowerDenizen](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ivorytowerdenizen/32/17937_2.png) [@IvoryTowerDenizen](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/IvoryTowerDenizen)\ **Post date:** [May 18, 2012, 11:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nervous-about-girl-scout-troop-leader/622372/11 "2012-05-18T23:40:41Z")
Oy. ---
**Author:** ![Farmer\_Jane](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/bbe5ce/32.png) [@Farmer\_Jane](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Farmer_Jane)\ **Post date:** [May 18, 2012, 11:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nervous-about-girl-scout-troop-leader/622372/12 "2012-05-18T23:42:25Z")
_Vey._ Is that troop the only option? My son goes to a school with a kid who has a mom that is a medium. Yes, that’s her official job. She’s been on Oprah and everything. They have a huge house and two nannies. Their whole house is weird. If she gives you the weirdos, duck out. On the other hand, I have a friend who is married to a medium. She’s on TV, too, but they’re 10x more normal. I’d trust her around my kid. Just go with your gut. ---
**Author:** ![Palo\_Verde](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/65b543/32.png) [@Palo\_Verde](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Palo_Verde)\ **Post date:** [May 18, 2012, 11:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nervous-about-girl-scout-troop-leader/622372/13 "2012-05-18T23:52:46Z")
But she’s **certified**! By **Doreen Virtue**!!! ---
**Author:** ![Arrendajo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/e0b2c6/32.png) [@Arrendajo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Arrendajo)\ **Post date:** [May 18, 2012, 11:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nervous-about-girl-scout-troop-leader/622372/14 "2012-05-18T23:58:20Z")
**PhD!** ---
**Author:** ![IvoryTowerDenizen](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ivorytowerdenizen/32/17937_2.png) [@IvoryTowerDenizen](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/IvoryTowerDenizen)\ **Post date:** [May 18, 2012, 11:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nervous-about-girl-scout-troop-leader/622372/15 "2012-05-18T23:58:53Z")
> [@Palo\_Verde](#): > > But she’s **certified**! By **Doreen Virtue**!!! I guess i"d be worried if it was Doreen Vice… but Doreen Virtue on the other hand… ---
**Author:** ![miss\_elizabeth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/838e76/32.png) [@miss\_elizabeth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/miss_elizabeth)\ **Post date:** [May 19, 2012, 12:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nervous-about-girl-scout-troop-leader/622372/16 "2012-05-19T00:00:03Z")
I’d pull my daughter, or volunteer to be a troop leader, or place her in another troop. I know there are a lot of dumbasses in the world, and I can’t keep my kid away from all of them, but I’d do my damnedest to keep her away from those I could, _especially_ if they are in a position of power with low oversight, such as this. I also complain about teachers who bring up garbage like that in class, but since they aren’t supposed to, it’s rarely a problem. I don’t think you’d be a bad parent if you left her in or anything, but I hate that kind of shit, and I couldn’t stand it. Obviously, YMMV. ---
**Author:** ![Otara](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/a88e4f/32.png) [@Otara](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Otara)\ **Post date:** [May 19, 2012, 12:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nervous-about-girl-scout-troop-leader/622372/17 "2012-05-19T00:00:23Z")
The main thing for me would be getting a feel for whether they’re just a bit batty, or a con artist. Batty, probably OK, con artist, not so much. But if your daughter is enjoying it, Id just keep it as a warning flag pending further info rather than taking action. Otara ---
**Author:** ![Common\_Tater\_1](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/76d3ee/32.png) [@Common\_Tater\_1](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Common_Tater_1)\ **Post date:** [May 19, 2012, 1:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nervous-about-girl-scout-troop-leader/622372/18 "2012-05-19T01:14:46Z")
You’re asuming that she’s teaching her beliefs to the kids. I don’t think the organization would accept that anymore than they would a troop leader teaching kids about any type of religion or paranormal hobbies. If you have concerns, seek out the leadership in your area and ask them about it. Keep i mind that the girl scouts teaches diversity and acceptance of people who seem different. I see no problem with this woman leading a troop as long as she’s not trying to push those beliefs on the kids. If you’re really that cncerned about it, the responsible thing would be to ask the woman about it and share your discomfort. If you don’t get a response that satisfies you, seek assistance from someone higher up. ---
**Author:** ![AncientHumanoid](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ancienthumanoid/32/278_2.png) [@AncientHumanoid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AncientHumanoid)\ **Post date:** [May 19, 2012, 1:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nervous-about-girl-scout-troop-leader/622372/19 "2012-05-19T01:56:39Z")
But then again, what if those angels don’t like your kid? ---
**Author:** ![RickJay](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/bb73d2/32.png) [@RickJay](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RickJay)\ **Post date:** [May 19, 2012, 2:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nervous-about-girl-scout-troop-leader/622372/20 "2012-05-19T02:02:48Z")
> [@malkavia](#): > > To me this is truly not much different than finding out that one of my child’s teachers is Catholic or Muslim or believes in horoscopes. > > Our children are regularly exposed to people with beliefs that you and I might consider wacko with little to no ill effect. While that is theoretically true, I ask you, honestly, in practice, to play the odds here. Who is likelier to be a complete loon; a person who goes to Mass every Sunday, or someone who claims to talk to angels and aliens? I know where my money is. Yes, objectively, CAtholicism isn’t really any less nutty than thinking aliens talk to you. However, in the real world, 99% of Catholics treat their faith as an abstraction and a ritual and it really has nothing to do with their day to day lives. Someone who claims to talk to “angels” and space aliens is either insane or a thief. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nervous-about-girl-scout-troop-leader/622372.md?page=2)