I Want to Fire Our SPL

[evmori]

Seems rather biased, you can't except scouting to be the top priority.

Why not?

Scouting is only one aspect (albeit an important one) in the development of our young men. I have 5 scouts playing football, 3 playing soccer, 1 cross country/track, and some in marching band. These kids are also involved in Young Life and other religous youth groups as well. If I told them that Scouting had to be their top priority I would lose over half the troop, many of which are our strongest scouts. It is rare for us to have all scouts present at any given event. These challenges are learning opprotunities and the kids spend a lot of time working outside of meetings to figure out how to cover for each other.

As leaders, we need to make scouting work for all youth. The adult leader's job is too mentor and develop youth leadership. Look at the troop structure chart and I would say that a poor performing SPL is refelctive of the person he reports to. Some boys will need more work than others. I think most boys want to do a good job but need to be shown how and like us need to learn from their mistakes.

Kevin

Something is top priority for them. Why can't it be Scouts?

[Quailman]

I would tell them it should be schoolwork/education. For the next priority I'd encourage it to be scouts, but it is up to the boys. If cross country has a three month season, then scouting may get put on hold for that time - at least when there are scheduling conflicts. It will be there after the season. Besides, he could actually be working on the Sports MB.

[kwildman]

Something is top priority for them. Why can't it be Scouts?

It can be but that is strictly for the boys to decide. Is the boy that plays football or piano any less of a scout because he misses a few meeetings or cant attend a campout?

[spl08]

I would tell them it should be schoolwork/education. For the next priority I'd encourage it to be scouts, but it is up to the boys. If cross country has a three month season, then scouting may get put on hold for that time - at least when there are scheduling conflicts. It will be there after the season. Besides, he could actually be working on the Sports MB.

Good point, but I have this to add. The things that troop should keep in mind is that many scouts first priorities are:
1) FAITH
2) *USA
3) Family
4) School work
5) Everything else

These priorities of most scouts always need to be kept in mind by adult and (sometimes) scout leadership as well. To say "scouting should be the top priority" is a not a good thing to say. I'm sure many of you may have ment that scouting should be the top priority after #4, but I feel it is important to say this all the same. That being said, as far as prioritizing after #4, I agree with Quailman.

*Some scouts may interchange #2 and #3 but in many cases, the order seems to go the way it does above.

[pipestone1991]

Seems rather biased, you can't except scouting to be the top priority.

I completely agree with you. Many of the scouters here believe scouting is #1. Scouting is important, but kids do other things. I'm playing HS soccer,doing HS speech&debate,drama club, youth group,youth band,paperroute and scouting. I can't always have scouting first. I just wished some scouters would understand that.

[smtroop168]

For the 96% who will never make Eagle, it doesn't matter. Frustration abounds with leaders who try to have a boy-led troop but then get left holding the bag when the "last minute other event" becomes a higher priority for them. Other activities (sports/band) are unfortunately less forgiving than we are in that if you miss a practice, you sit on the bench so the boy is placed in a no-win situation. Our program is a 7 year journey so missing some events will not preclude a scout from reaching Eagle and with National's interpretation of "Active", we are in a position to bite our lip and do the best we can with the scouts who do come.

That being said for the other 4%, I tell them at some point Scouting must become priority 1A (after school) as you can't wing it and get all the requirements completed if you do. Some do and some are 18 year old Life Scouts but that's why Eagle is what it is...special.

[evmori]

I would tell them it should be schoolwork/education. For the next priority I'd encourage it to be scouts, but it is up to the boys. If cross country has a three month season, then scouting may get put on hold for that time - at least when there are scheduling conflicts. It will be there after the season. Besides, he could actually be working on the Sports MB.

Good point, but I have this to add. The things that troop should keep in mind is that many scouts first priorities are:
1) FAITH
2) *USA
3) Family
4) School work
5) Everything else

These priorities of most scouts always need to be kept in mind by adult and (sometimes) scout leadership as well. To say "scouting should be the top priority" is a not a good thing to say. I'm sure many of you may have ment that scouting should be the top priority after #4, but I feel it is important to say this all the same. That being said, as far as prioritizing after #4, I agree with Quailman.

*Some scouts may interchange #2 and #3 but in many cases, the order seems to go the way it does above.

Good list! I would switch 2 & 3. #5 would be Scouting.

[Chief J]

I believe that priorities will change from season to season and year to year. Even as a Scouter, and I do believe in the Scouting program and its aims and methods, at times it is a higher priority than something else. However, at other times, soething else is a higher priority than Scouting.

I believe the issue has gotten clouded, if this Scout is the SPL, and he is not living up to the SM's expectations, I believe the question that must be asked is:

Does the SPL know and understand the SM's expectations and can he fulfill these expectations, if the answer is no, then he must look at why he want's the job. The SM must ask himself, have I communicated my expectations to my SPL and am I working to help him meet or exceed my expectations?

Chief J

[WeeWillie]

The SPL Handbook lists the responsibilities of the SPL and how to meet those responsibilities. A lot of what is being discussed here is already coverred in the handbook.

[scouter01]

I think its more like

1) School work
2) Family
3) FAITH
4) USA ( not sure what you mean by this
5) Everything else

[cballman]

I will start out by asking a few questions. when the SPL was elected was he just dropped into the job or was he counseled with what was expected of him? how long has he been SPL? is this Troop BOY led or LEADER led? do you as SM communicate with the SPL and the ASPL at the same time or do you just talk to the ASPL? do YOU as the SM ever put your job or family before scouting? do you as SM have any other hobbies or fun thins to do that is not related to scouting? Now we need to look at the big picture. everyone put themselves in each persons place and then ask yourself these questions listed above. What would you do? would you open the line of communication or would you just want to give up on someone or something? since we have only small bits of info tthen I would have to say we might need to sit down ad discuss this with all parties involved.

[spl08]

I think its more like

1) School work
2) Family
3) FAITH
4) USA ( not sure what you mean by this
5) Everything else

Maybe it varies depending on where in American you live, but I've generally noticed Faith to be at the top of people's/scout's list of priorities no matter what comes afterwards. I don't know of too many people who would say "I'm getting confirmed/baptized/have my bar mitzvah/whatever else this upcoming weekend, but OH! Wait! I have an AP Biology test the next day, so I'll just skip this relgious event to study." Granted if planned correctly, you shouldn've been studying prior to this, but you see my point.

4) USA ( not sure what you mean by this

What I mean is that if a conflict ever came between your duty to your country and something else, you would/wouldn't fulfill your duty to your country based on how important it is to you. For example, if you have an HONEST religious objection to all war, and there was a draft you wouldn't go into the war and serve the country because your faith is more important than your duty to your country. If in a situation where the duty to your country is a higher priority than some other lower conflicting priority (which in regards to my list is everything else), the duty to your country is fulfilled first/instead of the other priority.

[pipestone1991]

I would tell them it should be schoolwork/education. For the next priority I'd encourage it to be scouts, but it is up to the boys. If cross country has a three month season, then scouting may get put on hold for that time - at least when there are scheduling conflicts. It will be there after the season. Besides, he could actually be working on the Sports MB.

Good point, but I have this to add. The things that troop should keep in mind is that many scouts first priorities are:
1) FAITH
2) *USA
3) Family
4) School work
5) Everything else

These priorities of most scouts always need to be kept in mind by adult and (sometimes) scout leadership as well. To say "scouting should be the top priority" is a not a good thing to say. I'm sure many of you may have ment that scouting should be the top priority after #4, but I feel it is important to say this all the same. That being said, as far as prioritizing after #4, I agree with Quailman.

*Some scouts may interchange #2 and #3 but in many cases, the order seems to go the way it does above.

Good list! I would switch 2 & 3. #5 would be Scouting.

#5 is everything else, most extra-curriculars help just as much as scouting.

[scouter01]

You age out of Boy scouts before you are eligible for drafting.

Also, bar mitzvahs baptism confirmation etc are one time things..... Also while preparing for my BM, school work came before practicing. If you are putting it off to the last minute you either are a) a miricle worker or b) in big trouble

fyi: bar mitzvahs and baptisms ( some at least) occur way before you take an AP test

[AquilaNegra2]

I think its more like

1) School work
2) Family
3) FAITH
4) USA ( not sure what you mean by this
5) Everything else

Maybe it varies depending on where in American you live, but I've generally noticed Faith to be at the top of people's/scout's list of priorities no matter what comes afterwards. I don't know of too many people who would say "I'm getting confirmed/baptized/have my bar mitzvah/whatever else this upcoming weekend, but OH! Wait! I have an AP Biology test the next day, so I'll just skip this relgious event to study." Granted if planned correctly, you shouldn've been studying prior to this, but you see my point.

LOL. Considering that there is a Duty to God yet no "Duty to School" (mentally awake doesn't necessarily need to include school), one would hope so!

"God, country, corps".... er, "God, family, country, Scouts"

[scouter01]

boy scouts is first 18 years. what about the next 50-70?

[FrankJ]

boy scouts is first 18 years. what about the next 50-70?

Boy Scouter?

[scouter01]

Well yes, but should I put that my religion over schoolwork and just pray that I have a good life?

[cballman]

Most religions do not require that you spend many hours a week doing work for them. as long as you keep up your grades in school the I think you can do both.

[Mrw]

Putting your religion first means that you live your life in accordance with the beliefs you were taught. It may not visibly take a lot of time on a weekly or monthly basis, but like the Scout Oath and Law, it should provide a framework to guide all your words and actions.