Re: TWO DEEP LEADERSHIP thread
Settummanque, the blackeagle (waltoml@WKUVX1.WKU.EDU)
Thu, 24 Mar 1994 13:00:34 CST
"Jesse E. Cross, III" <JCROSS@BEOWULF.MHSL.UAB.EDU> writes:
>
>I have been monitoring this list through a friend for some time now.
>I decided to subscribe last Friday, March 18, 1994.
>
>The "TWO DEEP LEADERSHIP" thread has proven to be very interesting.
>So, I decided to add my two cents worth, here goes...
>
>There seems to be two camps, the Hard Liners camp that says if its
>policy you follow it to the letter without question, and the
>Interpretive Camp that says you are going to have to interpret the
>policy. Doesn't the real answer lay somewhere in
>between?
>
>Lets look at the American Heritage Dictionary's definition of the
>work "policy" 1. A plan or course of action as of a government,
>political party, or business, designed to influence and
>determine decisions, actions, and other matters. 2. a. A course of
>action, guiding principle, or procedure considered to be expedient,
>prudent, or advantageous. b. Prudence, shrewdness, or sagacity in
>practical matters.
>
>As a volunteer for Boy Scouts *I* am the adult and am expected to
>behave as such. This means that I'm supposed to know the policy and
>apply it. A well written policy works about 90% of the time. What
>about the other 10% of the time. that's when I as an adult am called
>upon to make an adult decision that will affect the life of the boy
>or boys I'm in charge of and my life. Therefore I'd better be sure
>of what I'm doing! The other hand is, if I as and adult am so
>paranoid that I'm not going to make any decisions and always defer
>to the written policy, then I'm useless as a leader!
>
>I like part 2a of the definition that states, "...guiding
>principle...". I have to take that guiding principle and apply it to
>the situation I'm in at the moment. If I make a bad decision then I
>have to live with the consequences, hopefully those consequences
>won't ruin my life. And, yes, unfortunately, the boys in my charge
>have to live with the consequences of my decision too, just as they
>have to live with the consequences of decisions made by their
>parents, doctors, teachers, mayors, state legislators, congressmen,
>etc. My hope and prayer to God is that the consequences of my
>decisions won't ruin the lives of the boys in my charge.
>
>If a direct accusation of sexually molesting a child is brought
>against an adult leader why not apply the wisdom of Solomon.
>It seems to me that an adult leader who genuinely cares about the
>boys in his troop will voluntarily remove himself from contact with
>the boys until the issue is resolved.
Most "abusers" prey on the "goodwill of the program" and stay there
until "the proof" comes out. This is how several cases were resolved
in court prior to the BSA's Youth Protection Policy was resolved:
because the Scouter or parent was well-known to everyone in town, the
accused had a laundrylist of creditable character witnesses in his
behalf to testify...against the kid and his Scoutmaster, whom stated
that "he did it". The court ruled in favor of the Scouter, and he was
free to go out and do it again (in another Council, under a different
name). By that time, the BSA's Youth Protection Program caught up
with him, he was advised that his membership was terminated, and he
left the program.
Don't fool yourself...the BSA is no better than any child-care
facility in rooting out ALL abusers or molestors....but the Policy is
a good step in the right direction. My personal problem with the
Policy is that it gives that Council Scout Executive "ultimate power"
in eliminating ANYONE that doesn't tote the "Council line" --whether
or not they have been accused of ANYTHING.
>The other side of the issue is, if we as adult leaders are informed
>of a suspicion of abuse, it is still just that, a suspicion. Until a
>boy or his parents approaches us either directly or through legal
>recourse with a direct accusation we can only be careful and watchful
>and do our best to make sure that the boys are not put in any danger.
>Perhaps a re-assignment of that adult to another position. I do
>believe that the person under suspicion has a right to be informed
>of the suspicion. Perhaps another adult saw something he considered
>suspicious that has a perfectly reasonable explanation.
>I think the point of confusion and disagreement in this
>thread has been the difference between a suspicion and an
>accusation. Lets don't ruin the lives of boys by ignoring an
>accusation! But, lets don't ruin the life of an adult by treating a
>suspicion as an accusation. Lets make *adult* decisions here!
Granted that MOST adults can behave rationally and understand the
difference between a "accusation" and a "suspicion". When my mother
hears of a instance whereby a Scouter "messes" with a boy, no matter
if she heard it on Donahue or in the newspaper or from a friend, it
turns her into a one-person "basher". Likewise, there are some
Scouters that would and have done the same in those cases, and the
person is "tried without representation" or even presence.
>Enough cloak and dagger, that's the game Professional Scouters at the
>National, Regional, and Council levels play!
>
>When all is said and done, it is our (i.e. the adults leaders who
>care for and love these boys) responsibility to be ever vigilant
>watching over them. If something happens to them we are the ones
>responsible! I'm sure National did its best to write a good policy,
>but in the end the lawyers who work for National made sure that the
>policy was so worded that National and its Professional Scouters
>are protected. They don't give a tinkers damn about the volunteers
>or the boys!
I disagree here, Jesse....the professionals for the MOST part DO care
about the volunteers AND the boys...its our "bread and butter" and
without you and the kids, we would be all shoe salesmen at the
minimalls!
The Youth Protection Policy was created (yes, with the push and
assistance of the BSA's Risk Management Division, most of them former
or present lawyers...) in order to protect the youth of the program
from being abused or molested; to keep the highest standards possible
in the recruiting, selection, and program support given to adult
leaders in the field, BOTH professional AND volunteer; and to make
available to the local Council AND its volunteer AND professional
cadre ways to eliminate those "undesirables" from the program
effectively, and without a long, drawn-out process which would waste
valuable programming time and time away from working with the adults
and youth whom DO subscribe to the Policy.
The professionals are no more protected than the volunteers are, it is
just that the program is aimed at the volunteers because they have the
most interaction with youth members. Professionals have to worry
about this program too, especially those that serve as advisors to our
Order of the Arrow Lodges or Explorer Presidents'/Officers'
Associations.
Settummanque!
--
Settummanque, the blackeagle... (MAJ) Mike L. Walton (
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