Re: adhd and scouting
Joyce Tupper (tupper@SATURN.CAPS.MAINE.EDU)
Sat, 28 Sep 1996 08:02:59 -0400
I have seen quite a number of postings concerning one or two
kids in a den or troop with ADHD, but the troop my son just
joined seems to be full of them! I know for a fact that four
of the about twenty boys are diagnosed ADHD because they've
been in special programs at school and elsewhere with my older
son (not the one now in scouts).
Of the 12 or so boys who joined in the last two years about half
are well mannered and appropriately serious about scouting. Most
of the other half, including my son are pretty much happy whatever
goes on, fooling around or serious stuff. The problem is the 10 or
so older scouts cause so much disorder that the serious boys are
becoming rapidly disgusted with the whole thing and even the ones like
my son will sooner or later get tired of it.
I was a den leader for four years and cubmaster for two and of coarse
had to deal with ADHD here and there but not on this scale. My experience
with my older son's ADHD has allowed me to see the good in what many
would see as just bad boys so I would certainly not want the problem boys
removed.
The SM is a good one but I fear it's too much for him to handle before a
lot of fall out occurs. I'm just a little hesitant to get very involved as
all the hours I put into cub scouting put a lot of strain on the marriage.
As it is I'm now the charter rep and will be on the pack committee to try
to pass on my experience, a thing that was never done very well before and
I think is important. I would give it a try if I had much of a good plan,
but I don't. The SM believes strongly in the "boy led" concept and in the long
run the "problem boys" will probably be better off for it but at what cost to
the rest?
Any ideas I can take to the SM would be greatly appreciated. Thanks.
Ken Tupper
tupper@saturn.caps.maine.edu
Terry Howerton Sakima Group, Inc. SCOUTER Magazine Kansas City | 
