From: Ed Thompson (thompson@VAX2.WINONA.MSUS.EDU)
Date: Wed Jan 19 2000 - 08:35:46 CST
Frank Porter wrote:
>Some older Scouts "experimented" with alcohol at a district Camporee.
>Expulsion, probation, suspension, resignation from POR, what would you do?
among which the responses were
>I like the Air Force Academy prounounced penalty. 80/80/5. Eighty hours
>of penalty tours. 80 demerits. Five months restrictions.
>Some service project. An additional time before the scouts can advance or
>hold leadership position in the Troop. And not allowed to attend any special
>trips. And an admission to the parents and troop of his drinking and his
>attendance at a drinking seminar.
This certainly sounds like a "strong" response and will make the adults feel
like they have "tackled the problem", but in reality all it will accomplish
is to force a few boys to quit scouting where you might have the opportunity
to help them. The last part, "an admission to the ... troop of his
drinking" could well land you an accusation of harrassment.
In scouting, we are not in the "punishing" business! We are in the
"teaching" business and this is a great opportunity to help some boys grow
into better young men (and no, punishment does not help people improve,
contrary to what we might like to believe). Use it to help the boys learn
about their mistakes, and to help teach the dangers of teen drinking to the
younger (uninvolved) boys. Get graphic if you have to (remember the old
driver's training films about accidents from drunk driving?), but please use
this opportunity to HELP boys, not punish them. They deserve that, even if
they did make some major mistakes.
Ed Thompson
Troop 6 and Pack 6
Winona Minnesota
thompson@vax2.winona.msus.edu
Troop page: bio.winona.msus.edu/thompson/t6/open.htm
