Legislation requiring the display of U.S. and South Carolina flags, and allowing presentations from patriotic organizations, became law on July 1.
The S.C. General Assembly in 2022 passed the Youth Patriotic Society Act, which pertains to all South Carolina public schools, and private schools receiving public funding.
In addition to mandating flag displays, the law allows selected Youth Patriotic Society representatives the opportunity to address students during the weeks of Patriot Day (9/11) and Constitution Day (9/17).
The Youth Patriotic Societies recognized in the bill are:
1. Big Brothers – Big Sisters of America
2. Boy Scouts of America
3. Boys and Girls Clubs of America
4. Future Farmers of America
5. Girls Scouts of the United States of America.
Other provisions of the law are:
6. Each school must properly display the U.S. motto (In God We Trust).
7. Each school must properly display two South Carolina mottos.
8. Developing a civics curriculum on civics is required, with the curriculum to run from kindergarten through 12th grade.
As a result of the bill, the Executives of the Blue Ridge, Palmetto, Coastal Carolina, Indian Waters, and Georgia-Carolina Councils, Boy Scouts of America, will be speaking to students this fall about the positive impact of Scouting and inviting students to join.
The mission of Scouting is to prepare young people to make ethical and moral choices over their lifetimes. Among Scouting programs, 86% of Merit Badges have a S.T.E.M component while nearly 100% of Merit Badges have a S.T.E.A.M component. In 2022, 96% of Blue Ridge Council Scouts advanced to the next grade in school and 91% of Scouts earned A’s and B’s in school.
Cub Scout Packs and Boy Scout troops also perform many service projects benefiting community schools, from trash pickups to supervised facility improvements and Eagle Scout projects. Scouting has a direct impact on educational success and is pleased to partner with South Carolina school.
SC Scouting Executives:
Blue Ridge Council- Greg Balog greg.balog@scouting.org 864-607-0801
Palmetto Council-Justin Williams justin.williams@scouting.org 248-444-2475
Coastal Carolina Council-Jason Smith jason.smith@scouting.org 843-763-0305
Indian Waters Council-Doug Stone douglas.stone@scouting.org 803-750-9868 ext 1
Georgia-Carolina Council-Dan Rogers dan.rogers@scouting.org 828-734-2671
