Tenderfoot Physical Fitness Requirement

[wagionvigil]

No we have had tyrolls before. Notice they are no longer around? I am real good a blocking

[Lynda J]

I agree my wording was a little off. But that is what happens when the fingers or the mouth think faster then the brain.

I do think if I had a parent threaten to sue me I would remove that scout from my troop. THere is no reason to have to go through every meeting and outing wondering it you are going to something that would offend that parent and possibly get you caught up in court.

[wagionvigil]

agreed

[evmori]

I agree my wording was a little off. But that is what happens when the fingers or the mouth think faster then the brain.

I do think if I had a parent threaten to sue me I would remove that scout from my troop. THere is no reason to have to go through every meeting and outing wondering it you are going to something that would offend that parent and possibly get you caught up in court.

Don't agree. Why should the kid suffer because his parents are morons? Now if the kid is .........................

I would go on business as usual & let the chips fall where they may.

[wagionvigil]

You must protect number 1 first. here are other troops to join.

[cballman]

lynda I was being sarcastic with my remark because you nailed it perferctly. no if we have troublemaker in our troop or have problems all the time with a child then a parent is asked to accompany the boy on any trip or outing or meeting. if a parent does not go then the boy stays at home. PERIOD. because IMHO ihave to worry about the well being and safety of the others and I dont have time to babysit one.

[Lynda J]

Ed, Sorry but no leader should have to opearte in a situtation where you feel like you have to walk on egg shells because you are afraid the parent may sue, or have a parent stand up and call you a lier, it isn't fair to that leader or the other boys in the troop. By allowing this one boy to act this way you are, in fact, condoning his behaviour. Where is this fair to the leaders or to the other boys.

Last week I rejected a customer because I know he has sued three other small shops and stopped payment on another. I have no desire to be sued. And no Scout Leader should have to worry about this on a daily or weekly basis.

Don't need those stresses and worried. In business or in scouting.

As sorry as I feel for that child, his actions are out of line. No SM or AMS should have to clean up urine from a boy who uses the wall to go to the bathroom. When my son was 3 he knew better than that. One thing that could also happen is if the place they are meeting gets complains about the bathroom smelling they could very well stop allowing the troop to meet at their facilities. Also what about when other parents start taking their kids out of the troop because they don't want them exposed to a kid that uses the wall for a bathroom.
We have to protect ourselves and the other boys in the troop. If that means one boy has to leave then regrettfully sometimes that is what has to happen.

[evmori]

Lynda,
If the parent is making you walk on egg shells then they have the upper hand. I say let 'em sue! I'm not gonna walk on egg shells. You chose to put your kid in my unit. If you don't like it you can leave!

[Lynda J]

When I started out with Kevin in Tigers I made it very clear to all the parents what I expected not only from them but from their kids. I also made it clear what I would not put up with. You are right. If that parent doesn't want to abide by my rules there are plenty of other units out there they can go to. So let them move on.

[wagionvigil]

Most folks in scouts do not have the finances to defend a law suit. YOu may or may not get support from your council

[evmori]

Most folks in scouts do not have the finances to defend a law suit. You may or may not get support from your council

If you have done nothing wrong your council SHOULD support you. If they don't then there is a bigger problem than the lawsuit.

[commish3]

Relax everyone. Unless you have broken a law or violated a major BSA policy the BSA liabilty umbrella provides leagal protection and pays any fines or judgements against you.

It is a very easy thing to make sure you will be protected. Be registered with the BSA, be trained, follow the program.

Be a good and conscientous leader and you will be just fine.

I had a parent threaten me one time about a law suit. I will give you my answer for free.

Very calmly I said.
"You have 24 hours to either have your lawyer contact me or to apologize to me. If I do not hear from you within that period of time you and your family will not be allowed to attend any more unit functions. The clock starts now." and then I calmly walked away

He called later an apologized. We never had a problem with him again.

(unless you are right I would not try this approach:) )

[Mick Scouter]

Commish, I like that approach.

[deweylure]

I agree craziness is in the air. Common sense is what is needed here. As long as the boys try their best and then improve I say it counts no matter how bad the form is.


Dewey

[momma_bee]

I wish I had taken that type of approach. As it ended up, we had to institute a contract-type form for the boys (I know I need to bring a lunch because I signed here) and still have problems with him, but as he has grown older his behavior has improved. Therefore the need for his mom & dad to defend him has diminished.

I'm going to credit Scouting.

I feel bad for them. I'm sure they took a lot of grief over the years. I had at least 2-3 parents over the years express reservations about signing their son up because he was a member.

I don't know if we can be too careful. Someone else has entrusted their most precious 'thing' in our care - their child. Even though some parents don't take it as seriously as we would like, we still do.

EMT / Nurse / Dr at each site? Probably not necessary, but if they want to come and can carry their own gear, more power to them, I'll welcome them.

[evmori]

Way to go commish! Excellent way to handle the situation!

[mhjacobson]

Whenever a unit leader has a problem with a scout that is serious, it is not up to that leader to solve the problem -- that is one of the roles of the unit committee. The unit leader has one responsibility -- quality program. When you have a problem with a scout and/or the family and you have tried to deal with it via Scout conference or parent conference, and this does not solve the problem . . . bring it to the committee. ONLY the committee can request removal or suspension of a scout from the program, and this is accomplished via a letter to the Council office. This takes any potential liability (and there is really none in the first place) away from the unit leader for the removal/suspension.