Re: TWO-DEEP LEADERSHIP (Was Troop Disc...)
Brian L. Davis (brian@COR.GOV)
Wed, 16 Mar 1994 08:52:14 -0600
E. C. HALE writes:
->
->Mathew Adkins says: "NEVER, EVER have a one boy one leader situation."
->
->George Huffman asks: "Where does one draw the line? . . . I need some
->realistic answers."
->
->IMO, there are times when one simply cannot avoid having to send off a
->leader with a single boy - as in the case of my troop two weeks ago. One
->of the scouts (a Venture scout who's been to Philmont at that!), cut his
->thumb so deeply he had to be sent to an emergency room. My ASM, an E.R.
In fact, there are indeed times when it may be difficult to achieve two-deep
leadership, but there are *no* times when it is legal in the BSA, or
advisable. As an adult leader, it is your responsibility to "be prepared"
for eventualities, including injuries to your scouts. You take a first aid
kit don't you? If you prepare that far, you might as well prepare the rest
of the way too. Our troop never travels with fewer than four adults present
for precisely the reason you cited.
->However, In the case of a scout who may be hostile, your best bet is to
->have as many reputable witnesses as possible. Further, get the parents
->to take charge of the boy ASAP!
If you have a boy in your troop who worries you in this regard, then you
should remove the boy from the troop. Gambling in this fashion is extremely
unwise. False accusations harm the program for *all* boys, and ruin the lives
of the adults involved. This isn't a trivial concern - don't take chances.
->In summation, know the character of your boys and act accordingly.
In truth, the rule makes no provision for the character of your charges. It
just demands obediance - and as a good Scout, you should obey.
Brian Davis
Youth Protection Chairman
Circle Ten Council
Terry Howerton Sakima Group, Inc. SCOUTER Magazine Kansas City | 
