RE: [Philmont] - philmont Digest - V01 #1566

Regarding the Troop with the potato cannon.

This has nothing to do with Leave No Trace. That's like advanced
quantum physics in comparison to the elementary level illustrated by
this potato cannon incident. Let me say that, if I was 12 or 13 years
old, I would LOVE to build a potato cannon and can see of a way to, in a
controlled manner, tap into that youthful desire for cool things that
launch inanimate objects. A lashed catapult would do much the same
thing, and in an open field and with water balloons would be present
fewer safety issues and accomplish much the same ends. But that
illustrates the role of the adults in Scouting and highlights the key
issue at hand: Appropriate adult supervision, and developing young
people's decision making capability.

As Scouters, we have to admit that we have had shockingly bad
experiences with other members of our organization, youth and adult.
Subcamp 19 at Jamboree and the issue with the shower house proves this
and these were supposedly the cream of the BSA crop, trashing a shower
facility, plugging toilets, etc. It has everything to do with the
expectations that are set by the adults, the anticipated standards of
behavior, whether on a trail or at a camporee or on a tour of the State
House.

I have no doubt that BSA Troop 506 and Venture Crew 506 would be larger
if we would only lighten up a bit on the standards thing. If we would
only let them wear blue jeans instead of BSA pants/shorts. Lighten up
on the whole "socks" thing. If we would only let them bring electronics
and cell phones on outings. If we would only let them "have fun" by the
campfire instead of being safety conscious. If we would only knock off
the "behavior" thing. My old First Sergeant called it "Lazy Eyes". We
see the problem, we recognize it's a problem, we know we should do
something about the problem, but we do nothing. Our eyes see, but are
too lazy to correct it. And we had a tragic incident even in our troop
involving a misuse of Coleman fuel that will leave a boy scarred for
life as a consequence. It's not to say it can't happen anywhere,
because it can and I know that. But even in that incident, a Committee
chair who just wasn't willing to get assertive when he should have led
to the larger problem. Boys will be boys and thank God the BSA has a
place that they can be boys. There are damn few left in the world. But
it takes willing, competent and capable adults to keep those boyish
impulses from becoming dangerous.

Well, I'm sorry, but if a coach can cut a kid who doesn't measure up to
the team standards, then so can I. Scouting is good for everyone, but
that doesn't mean it's FOR everyone who joins. Some aren't willing to
do what I ask. And all I ask is what our BSA materials say I can ask.
The issue isn't what our books and manuals say: The issue is what WE
are willing to stand up for, to put into practice. I appreciate the
great materials provided by the BSA, but the BSA has so allowed it's
once clear, bright purpose to be diluted, that it has lost the
willingness to make ourselves an organization that stands APART from
what the pop culture has become. The BSA has become a NUMBERS GAME,
from the district right on up to the National HQ. We are too often
satisfied with mediocrity, from our youth, from our adults, and yet are
shocked and saddened when we see the logical consequences of expecting
mediocre behavior. And yet other SMs in our own district tell me we are
too uptight about uniforms that we aren't opening Scouting to enough
boys.

But you know what? I can't control any of what the National does or
permits. I can't control what the Council does, or even the District.
I'm less concerned about my ability to even control my Scoutmaster. He
doesn't set the standards for the "Flaming Arrow"/ new boy patrol in
Troop 506. That is the group I can control. If I am asked to be a SM
again, then my focus will shift to the troop, not just one patrol. The
Scouters who ramrod that patrol are responsible for the standards of
those boys. Fortunately, my SM does set the standard for the troop and
expects me to do my job and that makes it a lot easier to demand a high
level from my kids. And most of the kids are willing to and capable of
meeting that standard, the one written about right in their BSA
handbook. That's all we ask of them. Nothing more than that.

But hey, that's just my opinion.

Dave Parmly
Knoxville, TN

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Received on Mon Nov 14 09:17:48 2005