Discipline

Scouting discipline is constructive… … because it builds character through applying the Scout oath and law. When we think of discipline we often think of systems of rules and punishments. These things are more familiar to our Scouts than open-ended situation where they follow principles. Asking them to judge themselves rather than issuing judgments may be something new. They will catch the spirit of this, but it takes a little time, and a consistent message....

Imagine two Scout troops, troop A and troop B. Both troops have “average” Scouts (whatever that means) who do what average Scouts do. Both have a well defined procedural approach to discipline and misbehavior. Troop A publishes a guide that defines the rules, how they are enforced, and penalties for breaking them. Troop B has no written rules, so they don’t have any measures for policing them or penalties for breaking the rules....

Thank you for your patience and support… … over the past several weeks I’ve been away. I’ll explain the situation in the introduction to this week’s podcast. In addition I’ll spend some time addressing two major questions raised by a recent email question, can Scouters discipline Scouts for incidents outside of Scouting? Can Scouters hold Scouts back from advancing because of their age? Two questions that we’ve talked about before, but it’s always worth discussing the broad underlying principles that provide actionable answers....

Lots of answers that you may find useful! It’s been a little while since I answered some email questions, so this is catch-up week. Listen as I talk about several different questions listeners have sent in over the past couple of moths, no doubt you have experienced something similar before, or may encounter these issues in the future. In This Podcast A deer in your pajamas?… [0:20] Intro 1:o3 Email about a difficult situation [7:30]...

Peace Scouting is nothing new, and it’s very simple… In this podcast I’ll share some thoughts about peace Scouting as described in an address Baden-Powell made to what would later become the World Organization of the Scouting movement in Paris in 1922. Your opportunity as a Scouter is a profound one. Take a moment today and think about that. We join hands with millions of fellow Scouters around the world working for love in the place of fear; and we all still have plenty of work to do....

Remember being young when the ground was constantly shifting under our feet? Remember wanting to be an adult but not wanting to be like the adults you knew? Remember how you wanted to change things? What an energizing, exciting, challenging, and sometimes confusing world we lived in! Our growing brains and bodies were in a constant state of change, every day was full of new ideas, new experiences, new people, new challenges....

When the Emperor has no new clothes… it’s sort of embarrassing for everyone isn’t it? Listen to my response to those (thankfully few) troops who decide to create their own requirements. Adding to the requirements is as misguided as subtracting from them, and sends a mixed message to the youth we serve. In the email segment of this podcast we answer questions about whether a Scoutmaster should step down if his son becomes the senior patrol leader, Scouting urban legends, resolving conflicts with parents, how much the Scoutmaster is involved in Eagle paperwork, disciplining Scouts, and more on the mechanics of patrol formation,...

Sitting down, a sigh of relief, a cup of coffee, close your eyes, and think about a nap. What’s that? Somebody walking through the leaves. You open your eyes just enough to see the senior patrol leader striding purposefully in your direction, he stops a couple of feet away, wondering if you are awake. After playing possum for a few seconds, you look again. He’s still there. “Hey Mark, what’s up?...

During his lifetime Robert Baden-Powell, founder of the worldwide Scouting movement, wrote many books and articles directed to Scouters. Each Sunday I’ll publish a selection from his writings in the hope that you’ll draw inspiration and understanding from his timeless ideas. IN a small camp so very much can be done by example. You are living among your boys and are watched by each of them, and imitated unconsciously by them, and probably unobserved by yourself....

Sponsored By ScoutmasterCG.com Backers In this podcast we talk about meeting the negative attitudes and behaviors we see in Scouts with the positives of Scouting and field a question about youth leader training events. This and your messages in the mailbag. Get the song I mention in podcast 212 here All Time Favorite Boy Scout Podcast: Play in new window | Download Subscribe: Apple Podcasts | RSS

Podcast Episode (00:38:39): Download MP3 Listen to Scoutmaster Podcast 208 | Sponsored By ScoutmasterCG.com Backers This podcast features the second and final installment of the two-part series started in podcast 207 discussing difficult behavior in Scouts. There’s also email questions about youth leaders roles and who decided how the program will be presented. All this and your messages in the mailbag. Podcast Archive Podcast: Play in new window | Download...

Podcast Episode (00:30:17): Download MP3 Listen to Scoutmaster Podcast 207 | Sponsored By ScoutmasterCG.com Backers What causes Scouts to behave poorly? Are they just being willful and disobedient or is there something else going on? In this podcast the first part of a two-part series looking into the reasons behind difficult behavior and how we can respond to it effectively. There’s also some information about service hours for 2nd Class, Star and Life Ranks: what service is acceptable and how do we decide?...

Carrying backpacks for the first time, Scouts leave the familiar comforts of home and strike out on the trail. Following flashlight beams through unknown territory, they arrive at the campsite with their friends. Tents are set up, a fire is lit and they gather around trying to shake off the cold. They talk excitedly about tomorrow’s climb over a mountain peak to the destination on the other side. They strain their imaginations in anticipation, careful to mask the uncertainty and vulnerability they feel in the volume and bravado of the conversation....

Podcast Episode (00:20:22): Listen on Apple Podcasts In this edition of the Scoutmaster Podcast we talk about this month’s ScoutCircle, reiterate how Scouting cooperates with the family in matters of discipline and behavior, and answer a question about the Toten’ Chip card. All this and your messages in the mailbag! |

There is discipline and accountability in Scouting but Scoutmasters are not disciplinarians. We are volunteers in the game of Scouting and our job is to mentor and train youth to lead themselves. When there is a question of accountability – a Scout who is not doing what he is expected to do – Scouters can speak to them and encourage them to rise to the occasion. If they don’t it is not up to the Scouter nor the troop to discipline or punish the Scout....

We are all working towards the troop where Scout leaders are not leading, up front, talking much ( if at all). Our aim is that , the vast majority of the time, Scouts are leading Scouts and we are far in the background. I am not advocating that adults should be continually present monitoring for bad behavior. This technique works not only for Scoutmasters but for senior patrol leaders and patrol leaders too....

Scout leaders are constantly called on to resolve conflicts, make decisions and provide direction. We do these things better when we are able to be calm, non-judgmental and unbiased. I can be easily upset and that leads to getting upset about being upset and that leads to being reactive, judgmental and unpleasant. I admire unflappable people, I aspire to be unflappable. Unflappable people are not easily perturbed or excited or upset; marked by extreme calm and composure; remain levelheaded; are unswayed by adversity or excitement; don’t get frustrated or irritated easily; are poised, calm, and self-controlled....

Podcast Episode (00:35:20): Listen on Apple Podcasts Back home from my summer travels! How do we handle discipline in Scouting? Subscribe to the Scoutmaster NewsletterCall and leave a voice mail comment or question at (484) 734-0002 Subscribe to the podcast on iTunes Eureka and Coleman Tents On Sale at Campmor! Mountain Hardwear, Eureka, and North Face Sleeping Bags on sale at Campmor! |

How do we maintain discipline, require accountability and promote responsibility without resorting to shame or allowing our anger to take over. My answer is twofold – be an adult and be kind. Scouters are supposed to be exemplary adults. We are to bring our experience and compassion to bear on the lives of our Scouts to help them through adolescence into adulthood. We are supposed to rise above pettiness, bickering and anger by using mature, fair and evenhanded judgment....

Two Scout-related stories of the application of zero tolerance policies (here and here) have been making the rounds of late so I am taking the opportunity to comment on the concept of zero tolerance. ‘Zero tolerance’ became a familiar term in the 1990’s as an outgrowth of a belief that the inflexible enforcement of minor laws would prevent the commission of major crimes. While this theory of law enforcement has been largely discredited the remnants remain in our school systems and in the wider society....