Sentinel947

Bully-Scout calling the OPs son gay is probably not going to get sexual harassment charges. I think you are spot on when you say " this is not a boys will be boys." While boys engage in name calling and teasing as part of group dynamics, this is much more than that. But sexual harassment? Hard to tell from the OP

This happens more often than it should with teenagers. Clearly CC momma has a lack of empathy and her son does too. Coincidence???? Your son is right to move troops. I hope he stays active with this new troop and he seems to be making new friends. His "friends" in his old troop aren't his friends. A friend would stand up for his buddy if his buddy was being bullied. Clearly they don't. The SM shoulda realized that this is a serious issue. It's a hill worth dieing on. Doing right by the scouts matters more than staying SM to a manipulative CC. His son can finish Eagle in another troop.

The topic of scouts friending adult leaders came up in a different thread. I feel like the topic deserves it's own thread. Does your troop have any sort of rules governing scouts friending adult leaders on social networking sites? Where does YP tie into this? What's your opinion? Does your unit use social media? Who runs it? Interested to hear what everybody's thoughts are. Sentinel947

Wasn't any of the mods as far as I know.

If it's the troops error, it shouldn't effect him the slightest. Ideally your troop should have BORs on a as needed basis, not scheduled for handful of specific times throughout the year. Overall your son should be fine. Keep us updated on the situation. Thanks for posting here! Feel free to comment anywhere else in the forum. Sentinel947

I agree with those who've posted above me. The Scout is young, and this is a wonderful chance to help the Scout correct a mistake. 12 years old is as good a time as any to learn to respect others.

Good luck. Building a new unit is a challenge and I hope you will be up to the task! If you are struggling with something feel free to create topic to get our opinions about it! That is why many of us are here. Yours in Scouting, Sentinel947

Basementdweller, your comment was unnecessary. All these "Unethical Leader stories" absent of the opposing view, need to be taken with a grain of salt.

That's why I think it's discrediting. Eagle Scout means something because the program is supposed to help build character. If it doesn't help build character than the title of Eagle Scout means nothing, and the program is a joke. It's stated aim is to help create good citizens. Obviously with this Eagle Scout, Scouting failed. It doesn't apply to us, but to the program, and that disappoints me. Maybe because I'm still young and idealistic. I'll get over those kinds of gut reactions in time. Yours in Scouting, Sentinel947

The checklist is to keep a Scout in the program so he can take and live with the Oath and Law. The assumption I'm making is that an Eagle Scout SHOULD have internalized the Oath and Law. When they don't, we have things like this. You don't seem to understand my argument that I made in the Respecting which Eagle thread the other day. (Emphasis added) ADVANCEMENT IS A MEANS TO AN END. The requirements, merit badges, patrol method and more are all means to helping make boys grow into good men. The rank advancement and earning Eagle is a small part of a process that if done correctly should ha

Sad. Obviously the whole Oath and Law thing didn't really factor into his life much. Brings great discredit to other Eagle Scouts who do what they are supposed to. Sentinel947

Earning ranks and badges is a means to an end. Not an end by themselves. Whether Eagle is a checklist or not is irrelevant. (I agree that it is) a scout progressing through the ranks is spending a minimum amount of time In the program. That time is our chance to instill the Scout Oath and Law. To be part of the Teenagers moral and citizenship development. If the program is fun and engaging, and outside factors don't take the Scout away, they'll stay for the duration of their teenage years. Eagle means something because we expect after a minimum of a year and a half (that's about the fastes

My hope is that even a 14 year old , having three years of Boy Scouts has exposed him to the Oath and Law and that he's internalized them. That's my standard for any Scout, Eagle candidate or not. I'm not judging their character. My original comment stands as written. Nowhere did I use the term judgment. I did say help form him into a man of character. Operative Word in the statement is helping. Scouting is only one part of a young man or woman's development into an adult. If a Scouting has failed to make an impression on a Scout by 14, something isn't right. I've got no

Did we succeed in helping form a young man of good character? That's my type of Eagle. I earned my Eagle and had drop and go parents. I turned out ok. Been aged out for a few years and I'm still active in my original unit. I don't think it matters. I wasn't the Scoutmasters son yet I always stayed after meetings and trips to help clean and organize. Good topic.

When I was a Scout my parents involvement with the troop was driving me to meetings. It was a double edged sword for sure. Ultimately I got my Eagle and never left the program. But it's probably advantageous to have a parent in the troop as well.

I'm hanging my hat on the fullness of Pope Francis positions. He is what every Pope before him was. As you've said "his spotlight" is aimed differently. I think we are talking past each other other. You are also putting words in my mouth. I don't appreciate that. I think we can agree Pope Francis's public words are a shift in focus from the Theology professor who was Pope before Him. But the Popes positions are Catholic positions, that happen to be shared by many liberals. My point on his time as ArchBishop is to point out that he Has in the past talked about those things. Even if he

Moose, look at the Popes time as Archbishop of Buenos Aires and his fight against the governments legalization of abortion. As I quip from time to time "News flash, new Pope is Catholic. Yes, Not all Democrats/Republicans hold all their beliefs in line with the party platform. I'm pointing out Catholic Teachings don't align with American Political ideas. It's incorrect to label the Church as Conservative or Liberal in a political sense. Individual Catholics might believe differently than the Church, but the teachings remain the same. Never seen a Local Church openly advocate for one

Policy change hasn't affected my decision to stay with Program. Haven't heard about anything serious in my council. Will see the status of the Troop tonight during our first PLC and Troop Meeting of the New Year! Sentinel947

Moose: Your Priest probably isn't quite as liberal (from a Political Standpoint) as you think. Part of the culture war is Catholics come off as extremely Conservative Politically, when in reality, it's not so. Catholic Doctrine rejects extremes, Which is how Pope John Paul 2 can reject Communism and Pope Francis rejects unfettered consumerism and lack of concern for the poor. Catholicism doesn't fall neatly into American Political Spectrum tests as many pundits think it does. An Orthodox Catholic would agree with Conservatives on: No to abortion. That homosexual activity is

Goldmeer your lack of specifics doesn't really allow us to help you much. If you could provide more details that could help us a bit. -Sentinel947

I think it does, but since a couple people object, I'll leave it here. There's still some on point discussion.

Does anybody object if I move this to issues and politics? I think it clearly belongs there now.

First of all welcome to the forums. Secondly you are an ASM. This sort of issue needs to be handled by your committee chairperson. Arguably you don't want a ton of parents on the trips. But you do need them to drive. As far as a parents meeting goes, there doesn't need to be a committee vote. It's up to the Committee Chair and the Committee Chair alone. In my unit the CC and SCM encourage parents to volunteer for things. We rarely have issues where there aren't enough adults to conduct a trip. Perhaps the CC needs to more individually reach out to parents. Phone calls not mass impersonal

I agree with this assessment.

Nah, definitely not. "The mission of the Boy Scouts of America is to get indoor boys to Eagle without ever walking into the woods with packs on their backs." Anyone who has ever witnessed a Wood Badger or adult Eagle parse our Congressional Charter knows that the words "backpack" and "hike" have no meaning without specific mileage requirements. Without the Journey system, all Scouting is Cub Scouting. http://inquiry.net/advancement/traditional/journey_requirements.htm Kudu your negativity is such a killjoy.