"Angry Parent" update
Paul S Thompson (pack287@JUNO.COM)
Wed, 18 Mar 1998 21:32:05 -0500
A couple of weeks ago, I posted about an angry Tiger parent who wanted
her son to receive Tiger paw iron-ons that he hadn't earned. She wanted
to make up missed Big Ideas and was angry that the pack committee, which
I had just joined as chairman, refused.
First, let me thank the many respondents for their ideas, opinions and
suggestions. There were many. Most took the position that the pack should
give the paws and stop making such a big deal out of the situation. Some
told us to stick to our guns. Some even expressed sympathy for me, having
stepped into this situation rather cold.
Our pack invited the parent to our committee meeting to discuss the
situation and, we hoped, find resolution. Unfortunately, she chose not to
attend. We (the committee) discussed the issue for 45 minutes, mostly for
my benefit. By a quirky twist of fate, our assistant district
commissioner happened to be attending a troop meeting in the next room
(the troop's SM is our unit commissioner) and he ended up sitting in on
our discussion.
His take on the situation was, and I'd appreciate some feedback from you
folks on this, that making up the Big Ideas was "outside of the program"
and should not be allowed because of, among other things, the legal
liability the committee would subject itself to if something happened
during the make-up. The BSA would support us fully if we operate within
the rules but would let us twist slowly if we didn't.
With no information to refute his claim (or affirm it, for that matter),
the committee voted to disallow make-ups of Big Ideas.
Thank you again for your insightful responses.
Paul S. Thompson
Pack Committee Chairperson
Pack 287, Romeo, Michigan
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