jmstock

This matter was taken care of. He is no longer on our charter as a leader and has been forbidden to hold any leadership position. He presented himself before our committee with a heart felt apology. He is getting help and taking classes through his church. Because his son can really only attend our troop and he was making significant progress, the dad is allowed to drop off and be with his son only. And if his son goes on any trips, then he is only allowed to drive his own son.

Just to give you all an update. I did confront the SM and several other committee memembers and clued the SM in to what his duties were and what I would do (call the District and then resign my position) if nothing happened. It worked... he did call the SE and the SE has left it up to the Troop to deal with (unless the parent of the child presses charges). We have a committee meeting tomorrow and will be discussing this whole issue, together with the broader issue of respect and discipline. It sounds like the parent may be pressing charges though, so there may some more "fun" ahead. I and the rest of the committee are bound and determined to turn this around for the good of the boys. Everyone is in agreement that the abusive parent has to leave. We've already told him he couldn't come to anything until we had our committee meeting (although he has shown up a couple times and has had to be "reminded"). I really don't want to have to resign over this because I really like working with the boys and so do my two sons (both Eagle scouts). Thank you all again for your great advice!

Thank you so much for all of your advice. I will be contacting the Scoutmaster (again) to let him know what his obligations are and if he has not filed a report with Council by Monday, then I will do so. I'll keep you posted.

This past weekend our Troop participated in an all day event in our community. We've done it for many years (run a hamburger booth during our local town's October Festival). And we've done it to be more visible in the community so everyone can see our Scouts in action. Well we certainly gave our community a good show. A couple of our Scouts had these blow up "thunder sticks" (small inflated bat-like) and they were bopping each other with them and then they bopped one of our adult leaders with them. It started out as horseplay, but the adult went over the line. He picked up one Scout by the chest a held him tight enough so he couldn't breath. When the Scout commented on it, he put him down... but then picked him up by his throat and choked him, then threw him to the ground. The next Scout he was rough housing with he put into a choke hold and then kind of roughed him up and tried to put him in a garbage can... anyway there was more, but you get the idea. This past Monday night he had the audacity to show up at our Court of Honor meeting like nothing ever happened. I spoke to the Dad of one of the boys and he took his son to the doctor and he had several strained and pulled muscles in his neck, shoulder and arm. Several discussions ensued between the adult and various other leaders, parents and former scouts. One of the former Scouts was my son (an Eagle Scout) who was appalled by what he had witnessed on Saturday.

We all certainally thought the adult would be banished from the Troop.,.instead, nothing is happening...they're sweeping it under the rug. I'm on the Committee and a registered leader myself. I feel like I'm not only liable for what any of the leaders may do, but I also have a reason to speak up. The father of the one injured boy is pressing charges with the police.

Our next committee meeting is October 19 and the adult in question would probably be there. I think we should hold a special meeting and decide what to do as a committee. I'm also considering contacting the Council if still nothing is done.

Is there anything in the Adult Leader's Handbook that would cover this. Help me plese... thank you.