Disciplin Issue

[Tralfazz]

Hello. I am a new member to this forum, my name is Adam. I was the SPL and Im now the oldest boy in the troop so Im sort of an "adviser" while I work on my Eagle Scout stuff. Anyway, my guys are just plain bad. I have new boys, and old boys and the older ones are worse that the younger ones. Its extremely frusterating to me as well as other leaders. We talked about a punishment, nothing severe, just mabey a couple of push-ups. Our troop is based on a church and they said that that would be wrong. Hello? There are boys. They need to be taught some form of lesson or this will just progressively get worse. My Scoutmaster is relatively new and he doesn't believe in punishing either. Is there any advise from anyone else? I need a third or fourth point of view. xD

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[James R]

In our troop we do punish the bad behaved scouts. We either make them listen to a lecture from one of our older scouts or we don't allow them to go on our next campout or other fun activity.

[t305spl]

We punish them by making the sit in fromt of the PLC for like a trial. The PLC gives lecturs and lectures. BORING but it stops them and gets them to behave.

[t305spl]

Hey James R,Tralfazz, we seem like we are in the same boat if you ever want to chat about how to do things feel free to e-mail me or IM me on AIM both addresses are in my meritbadge.net profile.

[ASM-142]

You can always recommend that they go before a board of review (which is not just for advancement) and let them find out what is going on.

[Lynda J]

Our boys were acting up recently and one of our ASM was trying to go over some informaiton and kept trying to get their attention. He finally did and informed them that they had to write the Outdoor Code 30 times and turn it in by the next meeting.
But I agree that a Board of Review for bad behaviour might help.
One thing we also do is for the first 10 minutes of the meeting the SPL is responsible for having some type of energy burning activity they do. It helps burn off the energy from the day and normally they are ready to get started after that.

[don]

Tralfazz
Could you expound on how the scouts are being "just plain bad"?
I guess if you mean bad as in out of shape, I could see how the pushup might help.

Discipline used in Scouting should be constructive and reflect Scouting's values. Corporal punishment is never permitted.
Adult leaders of Scouting units are responsible for monitoring the behavior of youth members and interceding when necessary.

[Guneukitschik]

I don't like the fact that you said you are sort of an advisor while you work on your Eagle Scout stuff....

You should be an ACTIVE member of your troop and hold an ACTUAL position of responsibility? How about Troop Guide....then you could guide the younger scouts in the right direction!

Perhaps some training for your younger scouts would help them...

Set the example...as the oldest scout YOU NEED TO LEAD!

doing pushups will only make them quit and your troop will fall apart...

This is the BOY SCOUTS....NOT THE ARMY!

[freebyrd1964a]

I agree with Guneukitschik, pushups probably wouldn't do the trick. If you are truly having behavior troubles I'd suggest just not allowing the trouble scouts participate in events. This would keep the trouble makers out of the campsites until they learned to behave and also would keep them from advancing (how many requirements are satisfied at events other than weekly meetings?). You can also stop most rank advancement as poor behavior is not living up to the scout spirit and thus they can not meet that requirment.

[scoutchallenge]

Push-ups don't work - ask my 13 year old

They will separate you from your troop or patrol. My son feels that the SPL who issued push-ups, to may times, has a powertrip. The SPL who is younger in age, more mature in appearance, has rank on my son has never looked beyond the surface to befreind my son. Now my son is more interested in High School and Eagle.

Try asking more adults to be hanging around the meeting in uniform. They don't have to get involved. They don't even have to pay attention. Have them doing paperwork or something else quite. The uniform makes them part of the gang - a calm part. It might have an effect on the rest of the gang.

[Lynda J]

We use pushups. But they can only be issued by an adult leader.
One thing I find amusing about pushups. When I went to Jim Story's (OUr District Advancement Chairman and great scouter) funeral last week.
One young man that got up to speak had had Jim as a leader 10 years ago. He commented that he still remembers being told to "DROP AND GIVE ME 10" He said it made such an impression on him that he now uses it with the troop he is working with.

Jim would make a boy do 10 but many times he would drop to the floor and do them with him and count them out. This gave the boys a feeling that yes they were being punished but only because the leader cared about them.

[t305spl]

Ok I need people to clarify for me what you can use as punishments? What are the limits. As SPL can I issue laps around the gym or push-ups or sit-ups. What are the limits. Please answer and if you can support it with a link that would be great just so I have a basis. Thanks Alot

[Guneukitschik]

Once again....remember this is the BOY SCOUTS...not the Army!

You need to use punishments like missing an outing or an event....

Pushups, etc. will only force people to quit and then your troop will fall apart.

Perhaps your leadership style needs to be modified to fit the situation until you get them under control.

I would suggest TRAINING! TRAINING! and then more TRAINING!

Remember Scouting is supposed to be FUN!

I'm not saying let your scouts go crazy...but they are kids and kids like to have fun....

[t305spl]

Yes I understand that and I have never asked them to do laps im just asking for someone to clarify the limits and where they are written.

[Guneukitschik]

Don't take this the wrong way....but use some common sense!

If you were one of the misbehaving scouts in your troop would you want to do push ups, etc.?

You also don't want to do anything stupid! if you do Parents will definately let you know!

Try:
Keep your troop program BUSY BUSY BUSY....they won't have any time to misbehave....but keep it fun....



if you misbehave you miss out on an activity
" " "no game time during the weekly meeting

I think if you give them a task that they must work together as a team to accomplish....you may be surprised at the results.

Have the adult leaders in your troop set up a mock troop/patrol meeting and show them how they are acting....

Put the one scout that misbehaves in charge and give them a task to accomplish......kinda puts the shoe on their foot!

and lastly....
JUNIOR LEADER TRAINING!!!

And remember....there will always be one or two who will push you as far as they can!

[wagionvigil]

Refering to push ups. at the 97 Jamboree the BSA had the special forces man the Climbing MB booth on MB Midway. If a scout failed to tie a knot correctly they had to drop and give 10 or what ever. The boys actually did not mind this as these were "army guys" dishing it out. But soon some adult leaders that were on staff caught wind of this and it was quickly stopped by the higher ups.

[t305spl]

Im just asking but why did the Higher Ups stop it? Just trying to learn more about this topic.

[evmori]

Push-ups can be considered corporal punishment which is banned. Check the G2SS for this.

[Guneukitschik]

Check out the following link:

Guide to Safe Scouting

http://www.scouting.org/pubs/gss/

[t305spl]

Thanks Just trying to learn more about this.