Problems W/Webelos Den Leader
david swank (dswank@SAT.NET)
Wed, 12 Nov 1997 19:41:38 -0800
Once again I'm looking for the advice from you experienced Cub Leaders
out there. I haven't gotten any constructive help here at home from other
Pack leaders in different Units, haven't run into the problem before so
here is another forum for practical advice. And my 2 sounding boards here
at home have recently moved.
I have a 4th grade Webelos Den Leader who is not doing the Activity Pins
properly.She did Citizen, a 2 month pin in 2 hours. She did Artist in 2
hours and Craftsman in 2 1/2 hours. Craftsman is where I find the most
glaring disregard for the requirememts for the Pin. There has been very
little wood working, everything has been precut, the kids paint or color
and all of the difficult stuff is done for the boys "because they won't
do it right". THe projects are ment for younger kids, from the Cub Scout
Fun Book, and include "wood" to the most minor extent. They made sock
puppets. They decorated w/paint a pre cut cardboard frame. They made a
"Burrometer" on a stick. Unfortunatly the parent helpers did most of the
work.
For Citizen she told the boys the informaton, they wrote it down, and
they were finished. No looking it up, no learning it etc, etc, etc. I
have no idea what they did for Artist but they didn't do a construction,
a mobile or work with clay. I was with another Den at the time of their
meeting.
The leader has gone to Basic Training, I was on the Training Team. Before
my last "sounding Board" moved 2 weeks ago, (she knew this leader better
than I do) My sounding board told me if I questioned her, the Den Leader
would probably quit.I don't know how to broach the subject in a way she
won't be offended but still get my point across. I have had so much
leader change over this year that I play a part in 3 Dens along with
being Cubmaster. The Den Leader in question is also handling the Tiger
Den. If she were to quit I'd have to do those Dens, too, if the boys were
to stay on. The Leader is VERY VERY competitive and has to be the best.
I'm afraid she is trying to have her Den get all of the Pins in record
time.I have been a Webelos Den Leader for 2 years(bridged last April) and
my boys did get the chance to work on all of the Pins except the Aquanaut
in Den Meetings. But we worked in the Summer for 2 years and really
worked hard the rest of the time. I also have the 5th grade Den for this
year.
I'm terrified to bring up the subject to the Leader. She doesn't help
with anything much but her Den. She doesn't go to any of the 'advanced
training" like PowWow, Roundtable, etc. But I can't take on anything else
at this time and I shouldn't have to. I wouldn't worry about it except
these kids will have no conception of what is involved when they get to
Boy Scouts where the requirements are not to be changed,and to be done as
written. Then the Webelos in the 5th grade this year are hurt that they
spent 6 weeks on Citizen and 5 weeks on Artist and the 4th graders are
getting the Pins handed to them. There are hard feelings all around.
What would you do?
Thanks in advance,
YIS,
Kristen Swank
Cubmaster & Jack of All Trades, Pack 392
Winnsboro, Tx
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