Re: Pack Problems
Henry Grabkowitz (hgrabkow@CONCENTRIC.NET)
Fri, 8 Nov 1996 14:20:21 -0500
>From reading this I get the sense that it is more the parents and less the
children that have a discipline problem. I am an Assistant Den Leader for
Wolves (6 boys) in a pack totalling about 50. We've made it clear from the
outset that Cub Scouting is a parental involvement activity and parents do
not abrogate their responsibility to control and, if necessary, discipline
their children at the door of the meeting place. Specifically, a Cub must
be accompanied by a parent at many pack activities (i.e.; Halloween party)
where a discipline issue could erupt. If the child poses a disciplinary
problem and potentially a danger to himself, others Cub and/or property, he
(and his parent(s)) are given an opportunity to correct the situation. If
unsuccessful, he is reluctantly asked to leave.
If the parents have been remiss in teaching discipline and respect for the
property and person of others and are unwilling to make any attempt to do
so, maybe they are providing an example you would rather your boys not see.
At 11:21 AM 11/8/96 -0500, you wrote:
>I'm almost to the point of frantic and need some kind of advice. We have
>a pack of about 50 boys. They are very rowdy during and after Pack
>Meetings and we've had complaints from our Charter Church about the way
>they act and some of the churches equipment has been damaged. I've
>complained as a Den Leader for the way the groups are allowed to just
>run. I constantly hear the "They're Boys" comment. After the first Den
>Meeting of each month we have our Monthly Leader Meeting. At these
>meetings each of us has our children there and..their siblings in most
>cases. I've complained because while we're meeting the kids are allowed
>to just run the church, which I find disrespectful anyway. At last
>months Leader Meeting my son and my assistants sons were made to sit a
>the far end of the room where we meet and were given puzzles and paper to
>write and color and keep them occupied while the other boys were allowed
>to run. A church representative was present and I wasn't happy with what
>she heard and saw. Of course, my assistant and myself are considered
>"mean" by our boys because they weren't allowed to play like the
>CubMaster and other leaders children.
>
>Then comes last night. On Tuesday our CubMaster calls all the Leaders
>and informs us that we can't use the Church Thursday night because of
>Revival. I'm still not sure why this wasn't known well ahead of time.
>She is given a church calendar. So, she plans to have the meeting at my
>sons school. We have children from two different schools. I am the only
>Den Leader from my school. So, the principal sends the key to the
>school home with my son to me, because she knows me. I go down, open the
>school and set up tables in the cafeteria. Immediately boys start coming
>in and getting out the gym equipment. Boys from MY school who are in
>the pack. I told them they were not allowed to and they were openly
>defiant. They did finally stop. We had our meetings..very loud I must
>say and very rowdy. This being the first Meeting of the month we then
>stayed after for the Leader Meeting. The kids immediately had all the
>balls and toys out. Anything I said fell on deaf ears so I gave up and
>my son played ball too while we met. During our meeting the kids were
>wild. No other parent seemed to mind. By the time our meeting was over
>the kids had "hidden" apparently all the balls and toys and all the
>tables were up but one. I put it up turned out the light and locked up
>the school. There were no toys out so I thought things were fine.
>
>
>This morning I just got off a 1 hour telephone conversation with the
>principal of my sons school informing me that toys were destroyed.
>Stuffing was pulled out of the padded kindergarten rollys etc. I of
>course feel responsible even though I was unaware and my talking did no
>good. I called the CubMaster and her attitude is that she can't control
>them all. I am at my wits end.
>
>I honestly don't know what to do. I hate to leave the Pack because if I
>do no leader will take my place and my other 7 boys will be out. And, to
>be very honest...I have the best 7 boys in the Pack. They know what I
>expect of them. They do misbehave when the entire group is allowed to
>run wild...what healthy boy wouldn't? But what do I do???
>
>I feel a sense of responsibility to my 8 boys but am just a bundle of
>nerves. Surely this isn't new.
>
>Sorry to ramble on. I felt a little background was needed.
>
>Alicia Marion
>Bear Den Leader
>Charleston, WV
>
>
Terry Howerton Sakima Group, Inc. SCOUTER Magazine Kansas City |
