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  • #61
    Originally posted by SSScout
    I am a sub-teacher in the public schools and a couple of private schools. Elementary and middle school classes. Often, I find occasion to use my Scout training/skills in class, either as a game, or discusssing a topic like history (flag courtesy? ), or geometry (pioneeing, surveying) or even general stuff like self discipline and treating others with respect. I often ask if there are any Scouts in the class, and I am always gratified by not only the number who raise their hand ("I saw you at the camporee!") but the seeming pride they express when given the chance. No reticence at all. Girl and boy. Even the girls like to mention the camping and hiking they have gone on. I always encourage the kids to continue with their Scouting, that they will go and do things their friends here in class may never have the chance to, and leave it at that. I also tend to wear a Scout hat or jacket to class (Why did the man wear a Scout belt ? To hold his pants up!), which often leads to kids asking me if I am a Scout. See no reason to limit Scout attire merely to Scout events. Often, I see kids wearing Scout T-shirts in school, and I compliment them thereby. When I see a Scout in the grocery store or elsewhere (T-shirt, Scout cap, recognized from CSDC?) I give'm a Scout salute, and watch them smile. Is Scouting held as uncool? Only if we do not reinforce the opposite. Name your Scouts as "Scouts", not "guys" or "kids". The adults need to also be un-embarrassed by wearing Scout stuff. Take the time to invite the conversation. "Hey, Scout!" I was asked to chaperone a overnight field trip of middle schoolers. As we loaded the bus with gear, I called out, "Hey! Any Scouts out there to help with this?" and three boys yelled "Yeah!" and came up and we had the bus organized and loaded in no time. I made them my assistants on the trip, to good effect. Now THERE's a good SMMinute....

    The above happened with my oldest son for a middle school band trip last year. The students were haphazardly loading the bus and quickly running out of room. My oldest took control, told everybody to take everything out, and repack. They had plenty of room. Trailer packing is a helpful skill.
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    • #62
      We have a pretty diverse crowd, too. Lots of football players, wrestlers (my Eagle son wrestled 11 years), academic stars, and even Average Joes. I don't think ther's much ofa stigma around here. In fact in my own unit I would worry more about the opposite- it seem sthe stereotypical nerds are given a harder way to go.

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      • #63
        During my sons ECOH they asked him what he would change/improve about scouting. His reply was to offer some social classes. He felt that too many of the scouts were too geeky and nerdy and did not fit in socially. He felt if they could be taught some social interaction skills it would help them. Of course is could also help the image of scouting in general. He did not join scouts until age 15. He had been an athlete. He did not advertise his scouting but would not deny it if questioned. He had enough confidence and social clout at that point that it did not matter. Interestingly once he earned Eagle, it can up in EVERY conversation with anyone he met. He met a lot of closet scouts.
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        • #64
          Originally posted by desertrat77
          We can't overlook the image of the adult scouter. It plays a big factor too. Like Basement, I am having trouble drafting a PC idea on this. So I'll just plow in, broad brush: Many adults in scouting don't convey the image of "you want to be like me" to the kids. Quite the opposite. Yes, they are well-meaning folks, we couldn't get by without them, etc. True. But the fact remains. It's probably a factor is why kids flock to JR ROTC, football, etc.
          Interesting thread, and good point I think.
          I know a lot of our scouters, myself included, may not have the "be like me apeal" on the surface anyway of say a good coach....... well indented and maybe better overall, but still laking the apeal none the less......
          maybe something for us all to keep in mind, as we are also reminding ourselves taht this is "all about the boys"!

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          • #65
            When I was in high-school I was in the marching band, and one of the perks of being in the band was that for parades in which I'd have previously been marching with the Troop, I'd be with the band instead. Band trumped Scouts, and band was slightly less uncool than Scouting. Band was also 150 kids vs. the Troop's dozen kids, so it was easier to blend in with the band and not bee seen.

            It's sad, I know. But that's how it was and probably still is.

            I think part of the problem is the image of the boy scout. It's a very dated look. As mush as I respect the traditions of the organization, I think it's long overdue that they drop some of the really old-fashioned looking things from the uniform. I think neckerchiefs have to go. When I was active, my troop allowed us to substitute a bolo for a neckerchief. Bolos are still pretty terrible, but it was better than a neckerchief. And the combination of the shorts with those horrible looking socks. Oh man...

            I hate to make it about the superficial stuff, but really I think the opinions of other kids regarding Scouting would be less harsh if scouts didn't look so lame.

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            • #66
              Coach tells his (her?) athletic team to "be proud" and "be a team". What do we tell our Scouts? Boy, Cub, Venturer, Girl, Brownie, What do we tell our Scouts? Is it possible that our Scouts pick up our own "embarrassment" of being Scouts? School Spirit Day, teams wear their uniforms to school. Not Scouts on Scout Day?
              What is the difference? Do kids make fun of the football team as "jocks" or not because of fear of physical harm? I'm not saying our Scouts should use threats to gain respect, but what is it they fear in being exposed as Scouts? "Secret Scout Society" indeed.
              Wimpy? Uncool? Hiking the AT and Philmont is wimpy?

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              • #67
                naming or titling stupid often enough, might he not begin to believe it?
                Here we are, teaching boys life saving skills, esteem boosting skills, ego enhancing knowledge, values to last the rest of their lives and do we not want them to be proudreasonrarelyguideScoutspride

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                • #68
                  This kinda fits this post, since we can't start new ones...

                  My Son crossed over in February after 5 years in Cub Scouts, went to one campout and several meetings, and decided Boy Scouts was not for him. I didn't make it easy on him, he had to tell the Scoutmaster himself that he wanted to quit. I'm not happy about it, but I'll support him, and have told him he can re-join at any time (same thing the Scoutmaster said).

                  So, now I find myself as Cubmaster and ASM without a Son in the program. I was looking forward to years of campouts etc with my Son in Scouts, obviously more than he was :') He still wants to go camping, and we will together.

                  Anyone else find themselves in the same position?

                  ​Thanks

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                  • #69
                    Originally posted by webslinger08 View Post
                    This kinda fits this post, since we can't start new ones... My Son crossed over in February after 5 years in Cub Scouts, went to one campout and several meetings, and decided Boy Scouts was not for him. I didn't make it easy on him, he had to tell the Scoutmaster himself that he wanted to quit. I'm not happy about it, but I'll support him, and have told him he can re-join at any time (same thing the Scoutmaster said). So, now I find myself as Cubmaster and ASM without a Son in the program. I was looking forward to years of campouts etc with my Son in Scouts, obviously more than he was :') He still wants to go camping, and we will together. Anyone else find themselves in the same position? ​Thanks
                    Sure have...I still coach youth baseball (on occasion) even though my son has moved on to other things. I figure its a natural cycle...everyone moves on to something else at one point or another. His new interest ... to the point of being a career path is Bass Trombone. To pursue that at a higher level, he had to drop Marching Band.

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                    • #70
                      Of course he wants to quit......It just isn't handed to him and campouts can be a lot of work. Unlike cubs, everything isn't just handed to you.

                      But one campout and a handful of meeting isn't even giving it a try. I tell parents they need 6 month to a year before they can decide if they like it or not. He is what 10 or 11, be the parent and tell him to stick it out for a year or so to see if he likes it.

                      I had a boy tell his mom that he needed to quit because he wanted to be a professional video game player, she tells me this straight faced.

                      Another lad in the hood on welfare playing xbox.
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                      • #71
                        Nike you have described my Pack as well. I've referred to our pack as "The Island of Misfit Toys". More and more I have parents that see scouting as a tool to fix behavioral and emotional issues that they have been unable to deal with. It is in fact driving the kids without these issues from the pack.

                        I struggle because many of these kids do benefit from scouting but they put an ENORMOUS burden on adult leaders and on the other scouts. It's tough to have a normal campout when one of your Webelos has an 'episode' at 2:00am. The other scouts remember this instead of the campfire.

                        I don't know the answer, but the issue is real. I also agree with the comments about adult leaders. Many of the 'adults' at our District and Council level are poor role models. They appear to be involved in scouting to relive their childhood, not to benefit the boys. Many are also wildly out of touch with the world of today's youth.

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                        • #72
                          I read this thread and I have a question.....


                          Are these the same schools and students who say they value and promote "diversity"?


                          It's really very amusing.

                          It's not surprising that public schools, the home of liberal orthodoxy, are usually hostile to Scouting and Scouting values.

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