SUBMITTED BY
Girl Scouts Heart of New Jersey
STATEMENT OF PROPOSAL
THAT the Preamble of the Constitution of the Girl Scouts of the United States of America be amended to reflect the following updates to the Promise and Law:
The Girl Scout Promise
On my honor, I will try:
To Serve God and my country,
To Help people at all times,
And live by the Girl Scout Law.
The Girl Scout Law
I will do my best to be
honest and fair,
friendly and helpful,
considerate and caring,
courageous and strong, and
responsible for what I say and do,
and to will
respect myself and others,
respect authority,
use resources wisely,
make the world a better place, and
be a sister to every Girl Scout.
Proviso: this change would take effect with the 2024 Membership Year and be incorporated into the grand GSUSA Rebrand timeline, with printed items to be fully refreshed by the start of the 2025 Membership Year.
REASONS:
1. What makes this proposal important to the future of Girl Scouting across the country?
2. What is the movement-wide benefit adoption of this proposal will provide?
Girl Scouts is an organization committed to providing a safe space for young people while encouraging sampling, civil discourse, social-emotional growth, and grit, all to produce sensitive, successful change makers of the next generation. Yet Generation Z, current teens and young adults, is the most cynical generation of our lifetime according to The New York Times. Growing up in social turmoil–unrepentant mass shootings in schools, racially motivated violence, alarming climate change, a bungled response to global pandemic, unprecedented uncertainty–Gen Z’s disaffection for legacy institutions is justified. As Sofia Chang was welcomed as National CEO, she noted that “as Girl Scouts [enters] its 110th year of service, the mission to develop and create opportunities for all girls is more critical than ever.” If Girl Scouts wishes to “grow, become more inclusive, and positively impact the lives of all girls and young women,” then the Movement must take bold steps to modernize—beginning with our core values: the Promise and Law.
The proposed change to the Girl Scout Promise and Law is inspired by Troop 20923 when they learned of the teachings of Dr. Cindy Wahler, a psychologist and expert in human behavior. Dr. Wahler posits that individuals who use more potent, actionable language are more successful. In September 2021, Dr. Wahler offered a virtual session on Impactful Communication to 120 council leaders, which may be viewed as a recording (passcode: GSHNJ#IWill). In her lecture, Dr. Wahler points out that American women tend to diminish the power of their own communication through word choices like “It’s just my opinion, but…” Further, women’s habitual resistance to self-promote leads them to interject phrases like “I hope to…” or “I would like to…” as opposed to using declarative, deliberate language like “I will…” Individuals who use impactful language to clearly articulate ideas and goals are more likely to receive an interview, be promoted, and find success. Troop 20923 instinctively understood this, noticing that even in their fourth-grade class differences in behavior—and resulting outcomes—were a reflection of divergent communication styles. If the line between childhood self-identity and future ambition is clear, then Girl Scouts plays a key role in teaching one million of tomorrow’s leaders to express themselves with authority and assurance.
Girl Scouts’ recent rebrand is already demonstrating impactful communication principles: “To move our story forward, we use a voice that’s encouraging, emotive, thoughtful, inclusive, and bold. As Girl Scouts, we speak and show up distinctly.” Our brand tenets include being emotive and substantive, speaking thoughtfully but unreservedly, with bold determination. Removing “try” from the Promise and Law is all that is necessary to transform them into potent, motivating calls to action, fully embracing and internalizing Girl Scouts’ aspirational brand. Removing “try” signals Girl Scouts’ willingness to examine traditions, remaining faithful to customs that serve our members and doing away with those that are no longer relevant to this generation.
“Trying” remains the key inspiration for Girl Scout programming at all levels: exploring, experimenting, failing, innovating, growing. The Girl Scout Law, however, describes foundational behaviors—a moral compass—instilled into every member who promises to live by them. They are universal values, evolving over time, meant to affirm every Girl Scout’s potential and ambition regardless of culture, religion, or family history. There is no space for “trying” when it comes to morality or core values.
In the increasingly competitive youth development market, there is no space for disregarding the impact of today’s social chaos on our youth. Over the four years that Troop 20923 has been advocating for this change, they’ve discovered an increasing appetite for participating in traditions while adapting them for modern self-expression. A national survey following national delegates’ discussion of this topic during the 2020 National Council Session suggests a high tolerance for this change, and an agreement on its timeliness within the context of our current political and social climate.
Gen Z is a nuanced, politically motivated group, seething with moral passion and ready to create cultural transformation. Girl Scouts can lead the charge. Girl Scouts will lead the charge.
FINANCIAL IMPACT STATEMENT
Indicate the projected expenditures and impact on resources for councils and the national organization, for a five (5) year period.
GSHNJ is not in a position to calculate exact budgetary costs for a change of this type as we do not have access to GSUSA’s vendor agreements. However, we offer that in the digital age, Girl Scouts are being encouraged to forgo printed materials or provided “print on demand” resources rather than consuming expensively produced printed materials that minimize the need for retroactive editing of the Girl Scout Promise and Law.
If Girl Scouts makes a change of this type on the national stage, a collective call to the media will result in a net positive impact on the Movement by boosting the visibility of the brand and offering another opportunity to address the “scout” confusion in the marketplace. Local councils could leverage increased national media attention to generate more membership and volunteer leads, provide dynamic corporate partnership opportunities, and explore new avenues of revenue and program diversification.
Council webinar:
I wouldn’t support this proposal the way it’s written. If “try” had to be replaced, I think the word “strive” should be used instead. I wrote about it in more detail here: http://girlscoutwithacause.dawgtoons.com/2020/08/why-i-dont-support-iwill/
The promise is not written out well. It is missing a verb that says what the girl will be doing.
That was my mistake – it should read:
On my honor, I will;
Serve my country etc.
I agree with the proposal, agreeing that “try” is a soft word indicating an attempt, and that “will” is a very strong word that signifies commitment. However, I also agree with Amy and Samantha that “will” sets one up for failure, as it is humanly impossible to achieve the goals laid forth in the Promise & Law all the time. Their suggestion of “strive” to replace “try” is a logical choice. It is stronger than “try” and conveys an ongoing commitment to achieving those goals, but with the unstated acknowledgment that we may not always achieve those goals. “Strive” is a powerful action verb that I believe will address the issues of those seeking to change the wording in a way that expresses strong commitment. “Strive” is an attainable goal; “will” is not.
I will support this proposal. Strive and try are cop out words for this generation of GSs. We are a organization of women and girls that should promise that we will do something and continue to empower ourselves to do it not try or strive. Sometimes we fail but girls should be taught that you pick yourself up and continue to do what we WILL do not just strive or try.
My two cents would be:
On my honor, I “strive” :
To Serve “my” God and my country,
To Help people at all times,
And live by the Girl Scout Law.
I added “my” God thus to make it more across the board as to what God to serve. God in many cultures have different names. This now includes all GODs, except those who do not have one. If we then want to look at that, then I would remove the word “GOD” as not to create religious conflict.
I don’t care for the way the promise has been changed ….. how about only removing the word try. On my honor Serve, doesn’t work.
That was my mistake – it should read:
On my honor, I will;
Serve my country etc.
It’s now been fixed.
I am not personally in favor of the proposed changes, although I understand the reasons these proposed changes may appeal to some. Part comes from my perception that GS needs to be a place where girls do try things (including the behaviors outlined in the Promise and Law). They frequently fail. What we want them to do in response to failure, whether failure to live by the Promise and Law or failure to tie a square knot is to try again, and again, and again. Personally I try EVERY DAY to be a kinder human being; unfortunately, I frequently fail to meet that goal. But I try again. How will girls feel if they say “I will” to the ethical standards in the Promise and Law and then fail? Will they quit trying to serve God and Country or help others? Will they quit trying to do their best to be honest and fair, friendly and helpful, etc.? We are all imperfect humans. I fear that having a standard that is literally impossible to reach — because we all WILL fail some of the time to meet the intent of the GS Promise and Law — will have a different effect than what is intended here.
Marty I agree with everything you said. I have been in Girl Scouts for 45 years and in that time it was my understanding that Girl Scouts was a safe place for girls to fail. Because we are not prefect and we will fail. But you want them try again and again and again
Absolutely! I think you’re spot on. I’m so glad this failed. I stress the “Try” with my girls. When they don’t live up to the promise or law, I point to that try and explain we all make mistakes, what we’re doing in Girl Scouts is learning how to do better every day and learn from those mistakes. I agree that it’s so important for the kids to know they can make mistakes in Girl Scouts and it’s a safe place to keep going and try again. The goal isn’t to make perfect humans, those don’t exist, the goal is to teach them how to always keep trying and learning to do better. I don’t think “Try” is soft language at all, I think it’s brave language, to accept our mistakes and keep at it without giving up is something we can all strive for.
While I appreciate the desire to lift the voice and desires of the girls, there are bigger issues that this movement are facing.
Yes, definitive language can and is empowering. However, we are all imperfect people and we should give it our best everyday. When we do our best sometimes we fail. Failure is where we learn. It’s where innovation happens. When we try we can also achieve all of the things listed in the promise and law.
Definitive language makes it feel black and white, either/or, with the one small word “try” it leaves lots of room for variations of success. I believe it should stay as is.
I understand the argument for “definitive” language as mentioned by the psychologist cited. But there is also an argument for using growth mindset language — acknowledging that we will fail but continue to try. And language of mindful intentions over unbending resolutions. And in an age when kids are more stressed out than ever, I’d lean more towards language that is forgiving and allows for growth as is present in the promise and law as it is now.
I don’t want my child regularly pledging to serve her country with no allowance for her own beliefs. I want her to try to serve her country, but sometimes her country may do things she doesn’t agree with and I don’t want the Girl Scout promise to indoctrinate her to blindly serve.
I also don’t agree with asking girls to state they will always be friendly in the law. The current wording allows girls to recognize they may be in a situation where they should not be friendly. It gives them leeway to walk away from a situation in which they were trying to be helpful but the situation is harmful to them, and even though help may still be needed, they don’t have to give it.
Teach girls to communicate directly; encourage them to say what they mean without softening their language, but don’t force every girl across the country to make militant oaths.