Another Attendance Question -- Completely Absent Scouts

[Mrw]

Our boys would not be earning a part of any grade for playing school sports, but they could get relegated to the sidelines or dropped from a team for missing practices.

We also have the kids who miss meetings for band performances. This is definitely a part of their grade (most of it actually) and the only reasonable excuse for missing a performance is a funeral or something of that nature.

The completely absent kids though are the ones who generally can't be bothered to show up if it doesn't suit them on any given day. These ones don't really seem to be involved in anything else either.

[wagionvigil]

I have been a Band Director for 34 Years. I go to OA Weekends after returning home from Footall Games in October,Parades in August. I always tell the scouts in the band if you want to get to a weekend outing after we are through I will make sure you can. But if it interfers too much you will need to make a choice and as you said the penalty for missing a performance is a failing grade. I left a woodbadge course drove 50 miles did a performance and returned after that performance so you can make it work. We are very fortunate that we do not have any after school practices unless something is drasticially wrong. Other schools that is all thay have.

[hops_scout]

Our band is worst than sports.

-3 weeks in the summer ALL DAY; three days a week the rest of the summer
-6-9:30 at night! Oh and my neighbors do not enjoy it, BTW
-7:30-8:40 nearly every morning during the fall
-Come to a football game, perform at halftime and leave
Have made comments saying that we have Friday Night football games so THEY can perform


Oh, and a band practice is more important than some sport GAMES! in the spring!

[wagionvigil]

Band is still a scheduled period here full band every day for 55 minutes.
WE do have two weeks before school starts and AN occasional (non required) sectional in JUly. Drum line rehearses the most But we make allowences for Family and outside activities.

[yardhunter]

Band is still a scheduled period here full band every day for 55 minutes.
WE do have two weeks before school starts and AN occasional (non required) sectional in JUly. Drum line rehearses the most But we make allowences for Family and outside activities.

............I agree with you in making allowances. Your leaders are wise. I have no problem with extra curricular activities, but schools & coaches place waaaay too much emphasis on these subjects.

Practicing basketball, band, football, etc. 5 & 6 evenings a week is a little excessive IMO.
Where I live ( near UK Wildcats country ) basketball is everything this time of the year. When UK plays, it seems everything else going on shuts down at that very hour.

Parents & scouts seems to forget all about the scouting program around here in the winter months.

Oh well, I guess one spends their time where their priorities are...........see ya yardhunter

[wagionvigil]

Just to let you know Our program is no slouch program I have three students attending Major Instutions of Higher learning (divI) on full music scholarships. Two at WVU and One at Penn State. I teach with Four Formaer students all in Music Pretty Cool.

[Mrw]

Our band schedule sounds quite a bit like Waigon's. My boys have both skipped an entire week of band camp in August for scout canoe trips. The director wasn't happy, but that is his problem. The band grade is based on effort and performances.

[hops_scout]

My sister was threatened with failing band if she missed a band practice for a softball game!

Our band director is nuts. (wagion's staff will tell you all band directors are, but that's ok )

[yardhunter]

Our band schedule sounds quite a bit like Waigon's. My boys have both skipped an entire week of band camp in August for scout canoe trips. The director wasn't happy, but that is his problem. The band grade is based on effort and performances.

I would skip band camp too for a canoe trip !...........see ya yardhunter

[Eamonn]

Why any Lad in his right mind would want to spend quality time with Wagionvigil when he could spent it with someone as good looking and interesting as me! Goes beyond me.
I don't like Troop Rules.
I agree with my friend Commish. We need to deal with each Scout as an individual.
Note I said Scout not parent.
Most Lads really want to do a good job and I have found that they tend to be a lot harder on themselves than we adults could be. But when we start waving the rules and the rule book, which has rules that they see as being wrong and unfair that really gets their goat.
Open lines of communication work better than any rule book any day.

[Scouting179]

My sister was threatened with failing band if she missed a band practice for a softball game!

Our band director is nuts. (wagion's staff will tell you all band directors are, but that's ok )

This is the typical attitude I am other Scout leaders in our area have seen from band leaders...miss a practice and you're out of the band. The band leaders see nothing but their world and make no allowance for any other activity. All other activity leaders I've dealt with will at least try to work with a youth's sked conflicts, whether it's Scouts, another school activity, or whatever.

[scoutmasterbob]

When does one stop being a leader.
I have a job and a family and if I go on vacation or travel for the company, my leadership responsibilities go with me.
It like saying I am only a scout when I am in uniform.

Most of my preperations as a leader take place out of sight of the actual troop meeting not at meeting time.

If you have band practice, or swimming or some other activity, there is always time after those activities for you Scout leadership roles. Multitasking is a way of life nowadays.

Besides, "its only 1 hour a week" Right?

[Lynda J]

Good to see you back Bob.