Scout participation (was Parent participation)

The thing that's bothering me lately isn't so much parent
participation--someone else pointed out the 80/20 rule--but Scout
participation. I'm having a heck of a time getting Scouts to attend PLCs or
even accept leadership positions.

I'm especially discouraged when parents condone this. I'm constantly hearing
"Brian can't come to the PLC because he has soccer practice," "Tommy can't
come to the troop meeting because he has homework" "Johnnie can't be a
patrol leader because he's in band."

I'm not anti-sports or anti-band, and I certainly agree that school comes
first--it just annoys me when parents who wouldn't dream of letting their
kids miss a twice-a-week soccer practice or band rehearsal (homework or no)
think nothing of keeping him home from a monthly PLC. Then they complain
because meetings are poorly planned or outings cancelled for lack of
participation. Or blame the adult leaders when their kid (who misses half
the troop meetings and has been on one campout in six months) doesn't
advance.

Thanks for letting me vent.

Larry Tuck
SM, Troop 761
Thousand Oaks, CA

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