Re: Another point about hazing

When I was doubling as ASM and Webelos Den Leader Coach, I attended a
pack overnight "campout". 4 scouts from my troop were acting as Den
Chiefs for the activity.

I heard one scout (the Cubmaster's son) tell a cub scout something like,
"Give me five!" I turned to see the cub scout attempting to do 5
push-ups. When I asked why, I was told that this was the "discipline"
directed by the Cubmaster for unruly cub scouts.

I immediately discussed this with the Cubmaster, and told him that I
thought this constituted corporal punishment and should not be used. He
told me very graphically what he thought of my opinion and walked away.

I assembled the scouts from my troop (including his son) and told them
that they were not to use push-ups or any other such activity for
punishment. I told them that if they had a cub scout who did not respond
to their directions, to refer him to an adult.

One question occurred to me in this case, and in several others since.
At what point do I remove my own son from such an activity which I
believe is improper, and thereby subject him to the ridicule of the other
boys involved? Many times, he would prefer to participate in the
discipline, etc. rather than to have me remove him.

On one occasion my older son was involved in as youth football program
where the coach believed that the best way for the boys to learn and
"stop being wimps" was to subject them to physical punishment. The
activities he used did not develope any skills. My older son came to me
and told me that he was wasting his time since he was not learning
anything and the activity was no longer fun.

I believed that he might well put up with the punishment imposed by the
coach rather than have the boys think he quit. I have also heard a coach
ridicule a 10 year old in front of the other boys for "not being able to
take it." Rather than telling him he could not quit (as I have heard
parents do), I told him it was his choice, and that if I would help him
with the other boys view of the situation, he could tell them that I told
him to quit (which was true since I told him to quit if he wanted to do
so.)

Any comments? (Other than the ones telling me what a wimp I am
creating.)

Blaine

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