Re: A question of supervision (WOSM)
Tim DeGraff (degraff@PIONEER.STATE.ND.US)
Wed, 6 Nov 1996 12:34:04 -0600
> From: CHUCK BRAMLET <chuckb@aztec.asu.edu>
> This question came up the other night in our Troop committee meeting,
> and I would like to throw it out to the list for a "What would you
> have done in this case?"
>
>I happend to walk by the campsite fire-ring, and noticed
> a circle of about 7 Webelos "pyromaniacs" playing with the fire.
> All of them with the durning twiggs that they were waving around.
> After ascertaining that there were _no_ Boy Scouts involved, I
> reminded the boys that they were not behaving responsibly with the
> fire. (OK, Jerry, so I "got on their cases". Happy now?)
Anybody playing with fire is asking to be burned. They should be
thankful that the 'burn' came from a concerned adult and not in the
form of a forest fire.
>A group of five boys, none in uniform, tightly clustered
> around while one of them flailed away at a tree limb with a hand
> axe. The fact that he wasn't using the axe properly was only part
> of it. The other boys were so close around him that more than one
> was in immediate danger of being hit (in the face) by the axe.
>Big Snip<
> So, the question is, in a Troop/Pack camping situation, should a SM
or
> an ASM "interfere" with the Pack kids when a father is "there";
> 1. In _no_ case?;
I consider myself fairly observant where my son and his friends are
concerned, but there is no way I can see or know everything that is
going on at all times. Look at the situation, it may warrant your
intervention.
> 2. Only in matters of safety?;
It is our responsibility as human beings to actively intervene on the
side of safety where our children or other people's children are
involved. PERIOD. While being "dressed down" in front of ones peers is
never fun, it's worlds better than being responsible for the scars a
friend will carry for the rest of his life.
> 3. In matters of Troop or BSA policy, also?
In these cases I believe we should provide instruction. Particularly
where Troop policy is more strict than BSA policy. A boy could easily
not be aware of the policies of a Troop in a Camp-o-ree situation.
Again, situational.
Just my opinion!
Tim DeGraff
Pack 125 Bismarck, ND
4 inches of snow last night!
Terry Howerton Sakima Group, Inc. SCOUTER Magazine Kansas City | 
