A Cub Disciplinary Problem - Help Needed
Peter Farnham (pfarnham@ASBMB.FASEB.ORG)
Fri, 23 Feb 1996 10:21:32 EST
Hi all,
A question for the collective wisdom of the list. One of my WDLs has
a kid in his den with a serious attention problem. They go on a field
trip, and Billy (pseudonym) disappears. They work on a den
project--and Billy is focusing on something else. This is getting to
be a real serious problem, or my WDL (a quite reasonable chap who
doesn't seem given to over-reaction) wouldn't have raised the issue
with me.
Billy's stepfather is a bit of a problem. I had to fire him as a DL
last year as their den meetings apparently consisted of playing
nintendo (the guy cost me about 4 cub scouts...arrrghh).
Anyway, the WDL wanted initially to talk to Billy's mom, as he
perceives the stepfather as being a bit of a problem, too. He talked
to me last night about it again, however, and now thinks he ought to
have a heart-to-heart with Billy first and tell him that he's going to
have to do better.
Billy is basically a good kid, but can be troublesome. He was with my
den at summer camp last summer, and got into it with his tentmate at
one point, which required them to switch buddies for the remainder of
the week.
My WDL thinks he has ADD, which he no doubt does, although it doesn't
involve the hyperactivity that often accompanies this malady (BTW, I'm
familiar with ADD, so we don't need to reopen this topic again). I
also think Billy's biological dad, whom I've met, might be interested
in getting involved in the matter as well, but we obviously don't want
to interject ourselves into the family situation inappropriately.
So, to summarize, at this point, the WDL is inclined to talk to Billy
"man-to-man" (figuratively speaking of course--he's been to YPT), and
if that doesn't improve things, then talk to the mom. I think having
mom or dad present at future den meetings to keep Billy focused might
be necessary. The WDL is a pretty good one, too--it's just that with
8 boys in the den, he can't devote half his time to keeping one kid on
task.
Ideas or thoughts, anyone? I'll print them all out and give them to
our troubled colleague. Thanks, as always.
YiS,
Pete Farnham
CM, Pack 1515
GW District, NCAC
Alexandria, VA
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