Re: Scout Problems

>Date: Thu, 28 Nov 1996 08:53:46 -0600
>To:Alan Jones <ALAN@SCOUTNET.NET.AU>
>From:jkasper@netten.net (John Kasper)
>Subject:Re: Scout Problems
>
>Terry Slade>>
>>> I am a Scout Leader. Plain and simple. I am not a nurse maid, a
>>>Doctor, or a shrink (I can't spell Psycologist). I do not have the time to
>>>spend with just one boy while the others go un-attended. With between
>>>30 and 80 boys on a campout or at a meeting, I refuse to baby sit some
>>>problem child. It is hard enough to teach the boys with out having to be
>>>a prison guard.
>
>Alan Jones>
>>I am flabbergasted, utterly and totally floored, I thought Scouting was
>>aimed to promote friendship, understanding and brotherhood.
>>
>>To be honest a leader like this in my Group would be an ex-leader -
>
>I must politely take the opposing view.
>
>Alan , Dismiss me please. I read Terry's message and thought I was
>listening to myself. Actually printed a copy. Being both a Scout Leader
>and a school teacher I see no one taking up for the 'good' kids. They
>joined the program with certain expectations and public and parent apathy
>typically gets the good kids far less than they deserve. These kids know
>it's lonely at the bottom of the heap and they do they're very best to
>drag other scouts down with them. Don't we have a duty to provide an
>enviroment where a Scout can succeed? This kid of Terry's troop or mine
>pushes his parents, teachers, and everyone else to the limit. He needs to
>learn there are people in life he can't push around and his Scout Leader
>had better teach him now. Wait till this kid tells a police officer what
>to do and where to go - What can we do for him them?
>>
>>Sorry, this really gets to me, some kids just need a lot of understanding.
>
>Your right, he does need understanding. Terry likely doesn't have the
>support to give this scout the understanding he needs. I don't in my group
>either.
>
>I agree with you in the outreach aspects of Scouting. I often refer
>parents to learn the history of Scouting. Kids with broken families,
>problems, etc. are now considered normal and kids with the 'traditional'
>familily are abnormal. How long are your arms and how far can you reach
>out and to how many?
>
>Monte Kalisch wrote: >>Maybe that's why he needs your help. Giving up on
>>>one _Scout_ is still giving up. Those Scouts who are the most difficult,
>>> least understood, and most troubled have something GREATER to give to
>>>Scouting than those who are simple and easy. They teach us tolerance,
>>> acceptance, and persistence. And, Terry, just as astounding as it may
>>>sound, you may save his life.
>
>Everything that Monte says is true. While we don't know all the details
>about the person who Terry describes. I found out that the disrupter in my
>Troop acts just like his mother, gets positive support from his peers when
>he misbehaves and lives in a society where improving your life is
>discouraged. Frankley, his support group is bigger than mine and better
>trained. Again I'll agree that if the scout can be turned around it would
>be a beneficial situation for all. (If only we could get 'flesh eating
>virus' to eat cancer cells) But is this what you joined Scouting for?
>
All the things I'd like to do for this kids will never happen, he needs
shape up or ship out situations that I can't provide. It would be great for
him to go on a weekend survival trip (having one of those nice headaches
that you get after missing about 2 meals would do him a lot of good) How
about a nice backpacking trip. (sorry, you were busy disrupting the meeting
when the leader was explaning proper socks and footwear)

Don't get me wrong here. I do my best. I take my Scouts shopping and won't
let their parents do it for them. (usually takes 3 hours, to shop for one
patrol with this kid, he can't read well and math...) I counsel parents.
Make little Billy cook at home, we're teaching him here and he needs
practice. (of course, he'll bring a sack of 'his own' junk food on the
camping trip and Mom will buy it for him.)

Terry may not have the popular view, but I'm with him.

John Kasper | >>>--------> | jkasper@netten.net
Eagle of 1973 Scoutmaster T-415
Chickasaw Council - Memphis, TN USA
Camp Tallaha Aquatics Instructor
...and a good ole' Bobwhite too!

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