Scout Behaviour

[dad69]

OOOh. the tangled web we weave

[Beagle Scout]

As a wise old Scoutmaster told me, "we not here to save the world."

As with many things in this life, we can only help those who want to be helped. The same is true of counseling, it only works if the counselees want to change.

Too many boys are in Scouting because someone else has decided that it would be good for them. Unfortunately, many of these boys don't want to follow the rules and can be very disruptive. The problem is further compilcated by their parents who are often very involved which may be a justification to keep their sons in the program.

To make the Scouting experience worthwhile for the other Scouts, it is sometimes necessary to separate the disruptive member from the Troop. There may be fallout such as the Scoutmaster may quit but is that not better than having a entire troop quit.

We aren't the Marine Corps or a military school so the methods that we can use to change behaviour are limited.

[AndrewMcHorney]

Hello

I appreciate all the comments. Two of the 3 adults who were part of the Scout's Board of Review met and created a recommended disciplinary action list. We will take this to the Committee Chair who will form a committee to discuss the what disciplinary action that will happen. The committee will meet with the Scout to discuss the results. The recommended disciplinary action includes a choice of a service project (time to be determined by committee), suspension of 1 month or a delay to start the Eagle Scout project. In addition he will issue a prepared apology to the troop at an upcoming meeting. Also the Scout will lose his Fireman chit and the committee will determine how he can earn it back.

Does this sound fair?

[t305spl]

Yes that definately sounds fair.

[Rick Tyler]

I appreciate your effort Rick unfortunately that is not what I meant. The BSA program makes no reference to the use of the boad of review as a disciplinary tool. It is specifically a personal growth interview that is done either prior to confirm advancement or to find out why advancemnt is not taking place. There is no reference in any Boys Scout leader resource or in any Boy Scout leader training material for a BoR to be used to handle discipline.

I've looked through a variety of Scouting publications and talked about this with some other experienced Scouters, and Commish is absolutely right. The disciplinary ladder is: first, the Patrol Leader's Council, then the Scoutmaster, and then, as a last resort, the Troop Committee. If the committee deals with a behavior problem it is NOT a Board of Review (which is what I had been taught by some Scouters who were obviously incorrect).

Thanks for the information, Commish.

[AndrewMcHorney]

Hello

Here is what happened. The members of the Board of Review met and made some recommendations. A committee was formed by the Committee Chair and then met and came up a plan of action which was presented to the Scout. He is working on the plan of action.

[wagionvigil]

That is how it is supposed to work. I hope it does make a difference.

[t305spl]

Sounds like it will work out.