Re: A Second Request from a new SM
Rex Goode (rexg@IMS.COM)
Thu, 19 May 1994 08:32:15 PDT
>
> So, I think because of the way the troop was run for several years, these
older
> boys were never expected to take responsiblity. Now that they are being
> expected
> to take some responsibility, they are rebelling (my SPL mentioned that he may
go
> to another troop). Oh, BTW, due to the lack of discipline, the older boys
were
> quite wild (even rather violent) with younger scouts, which ran off a couple
> of years worth of new scouts (thankfully, these particular boys are no longer
> with the troop). But, as a result, the troop has several older scouts,
> quite few new/young scouts, and not much in the middle.
>
> Any suggestions will be appreciated.
>
> YiS,
> Scott Smith
I almost NEVER advocate being a hard-case about some things, but when it
comes to Scout Spirit and advancement, I think you owe it to the tradition
of Eagle Scout quality to insist upon it. For those older boys in your
troop who just want to hang out or terrorize younger boys, they need to
straighten up and fly right. I wouldn't approve the Scout Spirit requirement
for any advancement until they at least show a willingness to improve in
these areas. Are they Eagles yet?
For those who threaten to go elsewhere, let 'em go. Hopefully they'll have
a hard time finding a troop where they can just skate.
Those who are left, even if only one or two, can be reasoned with. Prepare
yourself by reading all you can about Scout spirit and the aims and methods
of Scouting. Do it soon, before training. Then, sit down with the older boys
and do what Dale Carnegie called, "Appeal to the Nobler Motives." With your
preparation, you'll be able to give them an inspirational talk about their
responsibility to themselves, their rank, their troop, the younger boys, and
to Scouting.
I don't know of many 14-17 year old boys who aren't hungry to have some help
understanding of what morality and responsibility really mean. But they can't
have it imposed on them. They want to understand it.
Another important principle you have to get a grasp of is the Scouting way
of divide and conquer. You have to work at getting each boy to care more about
what you think of them than what their friends think of them. You can control
such boys with just a knowing look, not a look of discipline, just a look that
says, "We both know what you should be doing and I'll be disappointed if you
don't do it." If you've been the kind of man and Scoutmaster you should be,
it will really grieve them to disappoint you, because they perceive you as
being someone who not only cares a great deal about them, but also someone
wise enough to be worth emulating.
How to develop this relationship with boys? Time, time, time, and one boy
at a time. If he has sports events, go to them. Anything happening to him
at church or school that is an important event to him? Be there. Tell him
what is expected of him, but offer, offer, offer to help.
Your main responsibility is to train that SPL. If you can keep him, you can
start with him. But ask for a commitment right now. You can't operate with
this threat of leaving being held over your head. You need a SPL that has
agreed to take on the job. If he is determined to leave, replace him ASAP
and start working with the new one.
You may want to save the whole troop, but you'll probably have to settle
for starting a glorious few years for some of them.
One final point: Violence should not be tolerated in the least. Lay down
the law and be swift in your punishment. The older boys ought to be the
champions of the younger boys, not their malefactors.
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