Bad SPL

[Pheonix]

Problem: There is a scout in my troop that is probably about 16, he loves to make fun of other people. He teased one kid incessantly until the kid left. The only real reason, as far as I can tell is to try make everyone else laugh. This was only a minor problem until he became a senior patrol leader. Five or so scouts have left. He can't do the annoncements without making some belittling crack about one of the new scouts. The adults called a meeting about this and talked about the current lack of scout values in the troop (they didn't specifically blame him). HE DRAWS ATTENTION TO HIMSELF AND DISRUPTS THE MEETING!!! I doubt our troop will survive until re-elections. People who have been in our troop for years are talking about transfering.

If no one knows how to fix the problem does anyone at least know how to go about impeaching an spl?

[freebyrd1964a]

Sounds to me that the SM should take him aside and have a one one one (well two on one so the SM isn't alone with the scout). The young man needs to be talked to. If that doesn't help then I'd look into a way of removing him. I'm not sure if there is a provision but it would be worth looking into.

[Scouting179]

The young man needs talked to by the SM and a few others. They need to GET HIS ATTENTION and make him shape up. Give him a timeline. Some SMs say it's okay to "fire" the SPL, others don't feel so. I don't know that is in your troop. However, I do feel the troop should only be allowed to suffer from this so long. If you don't get satisfaction from the SM, approach the Comittee Chair. If still no satisfaction, I hate to so it, but you could vote with your feet too. I hate to see these things happen.

[Chief J]

At first blush, I would ask how did he become the SPL if he is unpopular with the Scouts (SPL's are supposed to be elected).

The Scoutmaster should take the individual aside and discuss his actions with him, and set the paramaters of acceptable behavior of a leader. I also suggest JLT training. Begin at the Troop level immediately and proceed to District or Council level when available.

If all else fails, I would approach the SM and his staff about accelerating the re-election date.

Best of Luck,
Chief J

[OldGreyBear]

Nothing is forever, or for certain, the Troop can see that sometimes a "jolly good fellow" is not always the best leader. That being said, I can see no reason to not remove the Scout from his position. He needs to learn that his actions have consequence and the troop needs to learn actions have consequences. I say this if the SPL has been counseled that his behavior is innapropriate.

If he has been told to change his bahavior and does not, then new elections need to take place for everyones benefit

[Pheonix]

The scout master has already taken him aside at least twice. I'm not sure if what he sees is wrong and can't help it, If he thinks its worth losing a few members to boost his popularity, or if he doesn't really care what happens to the troop since he'll be gone in two years. As for training he HAS been to JLT and has been the ASPL to a friend of his for about a year now. His friend is about the same age and does the same thing only to a lesser degree. I don't want to dismiss him, but if I need to (if we lose scouts over it, we only have about 16 so a 5 person loss is bad) how would you go about doing this? Thanks

[Pheonix]

I forgot to answer Chief's question. He hasn't been elected before and there are more newer scouts than older scouts. The newer scouts (who tend to be younger) thought that the way he treated other people was funny and as few of them knew him very well, he won.

As for examples of what he's done I'll explain the second meeting he "ran". For the annoncements he had everyone crowd around in a tight circle and at one point the ASPL threw a shoe at one scout who promptly threw it back. This continued during most of the meeting. Not only did he not stop them, he encouraged them. Then we went outside to play a game as most troops do. Unlike most troops the game was chicken fighting (fighting with people on other peoples shoulders). We did this for forty-five minutes. Then went inside, cleaned up and went home. Pretty productive wasn't it?

The reason scouts are leaving our troop is more what he's doing to them.
I really don't take much offense at insults so I'm not sure how out of line this is. On the last meeting one of the scouts said he had band on wednesdays and therefore would miss both an outing and the postponement of the outing. Our wonderful SPL responded with a sarcastic "I have ballet on wednesdays" the scout took serious offense to it. Also, on one outing a scout by the name of Kyle had opted out and not gone. Something wrong happened and many people were blaming each other. He said its okay, its all Kyle's fault, blame the one who isn't here. This became his inside joke. When things went wrong he would say it's all Kyle's fault. Notice I said "would". That is because Kyle left our troop. It could have been unrelated except for Kyle joining another troop soon after.

Just trying to give you guys more information.
Thanks for helping.
-Pheonix

[RWSmith]

Address the behavior, not the person... As long as his behavior is tolerated, then the adults are condoning it to continue. Suggestion: Go over to the Troop Issues forum and read my post in the Discipline Issues thread... Here's a direct link that will bring it up in a new window. In fact, read the whole thread... several people made some very good points. So, SPL or not, this kid needs a serious dose of "Abuse It - Lose It" (another link).

Here's an example of Abuse It - Lose It: Pull him off to the side, with one or both of his parents; inform him that he is not "personally" the problem; but, from this moment forward, the behavior will no longer be tolerated, intentional or otherwise, under any circumstances whatsoever; that you want his parent's Cell Phone numbers; program them into yours, right then and there.... finally inform them all that the very second after he does it, again, and every single time thereafter, you will "make the call" and he will immediately dismiss himself from the meeting. Furthermore, if he is to be allowed to go on any outings with the Troop, mom or dad must be on call, in case they have to come get him. NO EXCEPTIONS! AND THEN, STICK TO IT.

[Pheonix]

Alright, hopefully we should be able to fix this. Tomorrow I have a meeting and if anything goes wrong I will bring this up. If none of the things you have mentioned work (I believe they will). I will take notes on the meeting to give you guys as much info as i can.

Thank you for all your help.