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Yeah, tell the parents that they need to be present when their son scandalizes scouts with his foul mouth.

@mashmaster - Sorry to hear about the incident with the parents. Yes, it's remarkably frustrating to feel that parents are constantly putting up obstacles to you making the right decisions. I think I'd simply ask the parent "why?". My note would be something like: As Scoutmaster, conversations like this are pretty routine. A big part of why their kid is in Scouting is to benefit from being with other youth in a constructive environment. But, as kids are trying to figure out their own path they will make mistakes. Part of being Scoutmaster to let the kids know when they've cross

The kid is playing his parents against you? Play the parents against the kid. "Do you really want your parents here the next time you get into trouble? Won't your friends tease you about that? Won't your parents be embarrassed that their son is a troublemaker who can't control his mouth? " To the parents: "I'm so happy that you'll be available within 30 minutes to attend any future counseling sessions at weekly meetings, monthly camp outs, and Summer camp. Most parents are not that committed to micromanaging their son."

Fellow Scouters, the winner of the Scouter.com slogan contest is: @SteveMM! - @SteveMM: "Scouter.com - Uniting Scouters Worldwide" Runners up: - @mrkstvns: "Make Scouting Great Again" - @MattR: "The scouter's campfire. Pull up a stump and join us." On behalf of the Scouter.com moderator staff, thanks to all for your great submissions and participation! @RememberSchiff, @MattR, @John-in-KC,@desertrat77

I had to deal with a situation with a scout at our meeting this week. My conversation with the scout went fine as far as I knew. The scout was using inappropriate sexual preference remarks to other scouts repeatedly, the other scouts spoke to him about this at prior activities and told him he needed to stop and that it made them feel uncomfortable. When it happened again, the other scouts came to me asking me to help. I was proud of the other scouts taking the initiative to solve the problem themselves. But knew I needed to have a discussion with him. I talked to another leader who had o

Maybe the national media issues do hurt scouting, as the view of scouting, by the parents that don't put their kids in scouts, is not positive. Hence, fewer new parents, fewer new leaders, online training. This is a national media issue. If national doesn't put anything out then they don't get ahead of their message and whatever bad media is put out by other people is the only message that all these parents get.

Very well said. We see pretty much the same thing here. In our area internet connectivity really isn't the issue, but everything else you describe matches really well. What The Powers That Be (TPTB in my book) really seem to have missed is that 75% of training occurs in the interaction between people. The content is only 25% of the value. My recommendation to national: Use online training to cover the most basic of information. Make it one hour or less Start a national campaign to hold face-to-face basic leader training in every district annually. That training shoul

I. HATE. ONLINE. TRAINING. Not only for the lack of contact with others, especially experienced Scouters who have "been there, done that," but also because the Powers That Be don't seem the grasp that technological disparities across the country. Not everyone has high speed internet. One person took over 4 hours to do just the YPT2.0 training because he had to use dial up; there are no high speed providers in the area that will service him. We had a group so fed up with trying to do YPT2.0 online, that they begged council to allow a live class, which thankfully council obliged. We would

??? Why is it harder (as in not worth the effort) than ever (paperwork, finances) to start units and attract/keep volunteers? Competent leaders know that building a great program is the key to Scouting longevity in their community. My $0.02,

Progressives know that the key to controlling the future is to own the minds of the nation's youth. They took over education through the teachers' unions. The feminists usurped Girl Scouts. Boy Scouts of America was the last most prominent bastion for learning how to live a moral life. So that made BSA a very important target for progressives to eliminate. There once was a principle that one should adhere to their principles, even in the face of adversity. Compromise was the splinter that became a wedge that split the traditionalists from the program. Sadly for the youth, the knowle

This is new for me. I would have to think about my response, but it would be along the the lines that developing character requires accountability of choices without the parents in the room. However, and I have asked this of parents, if they insist being present with theirs sons accountability, then they have to attend 100% of their sons activities. We had a few families leave. Barry

Yeah, it's not the kid who's makin you want to walk away. It's the folks on the sidelines yelling at the ref for calling out of bounds.

Hopefully, his behavior will change and he will have learned despite his parents. I'm certain that the rest of the scouts in your troop appreciate what you did.

I certainly believe this is a big part, but funding is driving Nationals actions (reactions) today. I believe the movement values debate is irrelevant now because the law suit is the game changer. National is in survival mode and all the changes we see going forward are for saving the organization. The BSA was rich in funding before National started in the progressive direction. I believe alumni would have come to the rescue if the law suit happened 25 years ago. Barry