Re: An SPL Needs Advice

There are two possibilities, the first one was very well covered
in Norman's post, the second is that he simply enjoys it.
It is all too common nowadays to attribute aberrant behaviour to some
problems at home/school etc.
At that age the search for power (see any book on Jungian (sp?)
psychology) is probably the most important driving factor. This
child could well be looking for some advantage over his peers.
The easiest way for him to do this is to disrupt and often bully i.e.
making everybody wait for him. The more difficult way is to lead,
but this is easily possible which is why I favour this explanation,
since in my experience, those simply seeking attention are hopless
leaders since they cannot (in general) take on any responsibility.
Certainly do have a talk with him, if he has proved
himself a good leader then it will probably only nessicary to talk
about his future in scouting, make it clear that there are leadership
positions available if he wants them but that he will have to prove
that he can do the job, ie behave responsibly. Warn him that this
will not happen over night. It might be nessicary to manouvre the
subject towards the promise and law and that scouts are expected to
live by them, on one occasion an abstract talk about the qualities of
a gentleman helped (the boy was not a scout in this case).
This case will never be clear cut and you will have to make your own
assesment, all the advice in the world is still only (and frequently
conflicting) advice.
The best option with your scoutmaster might be to have it out with
him at the next court of honour. Decide between all the patrol
leaders and adult leaders where the bounds of your individual
responsibility lie, and that if something is one person's
responsibility then he must have the authority to carry out the
action required. This problem is not just yours it is a collective
responsibility, what does his partol leader think? Has any one
spoken to his parents?
Your scoutmaster sounds like he wants to give you the responsability
and authority but cannot bear to let go of it himself. You must
point out that you cannot have responsibility without authority, and
that if he wants you to do your job then he must allow you to do it.

This is slightly muddled but I hope it helps.

Derry Hamilton
Junior Leader
1st North Berwick
(Scotland)
Derry Hamilton |Insert your favorite disclaimer
|========================
D.Hamilton@SMS.ed.ac.uk |"My country is the world and my
aph@dcs.ed.ac.uk |religion is to do good."
| -Thomas Paine

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