Scoutmaster

I get lots of email questions about… … troop conflicts. It may be volunteers arguing with each other, parents arguing with Scouters, volunteers arguing with Scouts, they all have a common thread, and most have a common answer. I also offer my simple advice for welcoming girls into troops, so simple you may not like it very much! I also talk about what’s next at Scoutmastercg.com Listen to this week’s podcast This podcast is brought to you by Patrons & Backers Podcast Notes The project I mention in this podcast  ksqfilm.com The post Podcast 374 – What’s Next, Email Questions appeared first on Scoutmastercg.com.

I get lots of email questions about… … troop conflicts. It may be volunteers arguing with each other, parents arguing with Scouters, volunteers arguing with Scouts, they all have a common thread, and most have a common answer. I also offer my simple advice for welcoming girls into troops, so simple you may not like it very much! I also talk about what’s next at Scoutmastercg.com Listen to this week’s podcast This podcast is brought to you by Patrons & Backers Podcast Notes The project I mention in this podcast  ksqfilm.com The post Podcast 374 – What’s Next, Email Questions appeared first on Scoutmastercg.com.

I get lots of email questions about… … troop conflicts. It may be volunteers arguing with each other, parents arguing with Scouters, volunteers arguing with Scouts, they all have a common thread, and most have a common answer. I also offer my simple advice for welcoming girls into troops, so simple you may not like it very much! I also talk about what’s next at Scoutmastercg.com Listen to this week’s podcastThis podcast is brought to you by Patrons & BackersPodcast Notes The project I mention in this podcast  ksqfilm.com The post Podcast 374 – What’s Next, Email Questions appeared first on Scoutmastercg.com.       

Create shared expectations and you’ll have a happy troop. In this week’s podcast I answer an email question about a behavior problem. A problem that would never happen if those involved shared expectations. Ask Scouts to analyze their behavior in light of the Scout oath and law. Listen carefully, ask questions, listen more, share your thoughts, and leave this discussion with a very clear set of shared expectations. The same applies to evaluating the “judgement call” requirements like Scout spirit and active participation. We should not make judgment calls based on our own observations alone. Evaluating Scout Spirit is a prime example. Ask the Scout to explain the concept to you, ask them to use points of the Scout oath and law to evaluate themselves and see if you agree with that evaluation. It’s very likely that 99 out of 100 times you will agree with the Scout. If you don’t agree then tell the Scout precisely why, illustrating your thoughts with the oath and law. Continue asking questions until you create shared expectations of how the requirement will be met. Each Scout will have a slightly different take on the situation at hand, and if you listen long enough to what they say you discover a great many things about them and about yourself. Most Scouters begin with the idea that they are responsible for shaping and controlling behavior and evaluating performance. They dictate a set of expectations that their Scouts may or may not share setting up a confrontation down the road. When Scouts evaluate their own behavior and performance against the Scout oath and law they are actively forming their character.  You can actually see character forming, sometimes you can almost see smoke coming out of their ears as they reference and build an internal standard. You can see the lights come on. Most Scout-aged children do not have any other opportunity to exercise this internal standard in any meaningful way. Most of what they do and how they live is dictated to them by adults or by the uncertainties of what is cool or acceptable to their peers. When you begin doing this it will seem like another adult trick, they will not really understand what is going on. They have learned not to trust adults, because adults have absolute power and have no problem welding that power to get their own way. When we recognize and trust a Scout we make the most of the Scout oath and law. You can’t hide from or lie to the Scout oath and law. Create shared expectations in this context and see what happens. Scouters can’t allow all issues to hinge on their personal judgement. If we reserve the right to punish or sanction behavior with our own judgement we miss out on the most powerful and transformative potential of our work. Naturally there are situations when you must be the adult and put a stop to dangerous or inappropriate behavior immediately. We also don’t accept every decision or every idea simply because it originated with a Scout. Everything we do has to be within the rules and aims of the game of Scouting. Scouters have to study these rules and be fully versed in the aim of our work to be the most effective guides for their Scouts. We don’t wield the power of our own judgement to reward or punish our Scouts. Scouters don’t disqualify them or sanction them. We count on the Scout oath and law. When you step aside and allow it to be the most powerful player in the game things start changing for the better. Listen to this week’s podcast This podcast is brought to you by Patrons & Backers Podcast Notes Guide to Advancement Happy Wanderer Opening Music Get my book The Scouting Journey Get my book So Far So Good The post Podcast 373 – Create Shared Expectations appeared first on Scoutmastercg.com.

Create shared expectations and you’ll have a happy troop. In this week’s podcast I answer an email question about a behavior problem. A problem that would never happen if those involved shared expectations. Ask Scouts to analyze their behavior in light of the Scout oath and law. Listen carefully, ask questions, listen more, share your thoughts, and leave this discussion with a very clear set of shared expectations. The same applies to evaluating the “judgement call” requirements like Scout spirit and active participation. We should not make judgment calls based on our own observations alone. Evaluating Scout Spirit is a prime example. Ask the Scout to explain the concept to you, ask them to use points of the Scout oath and law to evaluate themselves and see if you agree with that evaluation. It’s very likely that 99 out of 100 times you will agree with the Scout. If you don’t agree then tell the Scout precisely why, illustrating your thoughts with the oath and law. Continue asking questions until you create shared expectations of how the requirement will be met. Each Scout will have a slightly different take on the situation at hand, and if you listen long enough to what they say you discover a great many things about them and about yourself. Most Scouters begin with the idea that they are responsible for shaping and controlling behavior and evaluating performance. They dictate a set of expectations that their Scouts may or may not share setting up a confrontation down the road. When Scouts evaluate their own behavior and performance against the Scout oath and law they are actively forming their character.  You can actually see character forming, sometimes you can almost see smoke coming out of their ears as they reference and build an internal standard. You can see the lights come on. Most Scout-aged children do not have any other opportunity to exercise this internal standard in any meaningful way. Most of what they do and how they live is dictated to them by adults or by the uncertainties of what is cool or acceptable to their peers. When you begin doing this it will seem like another adult trick, they will not really understand what is going on. They have learned not to trust adults, because adults have absolute power and have no problem welding that power to get their own way. When we recognize and trust a Scout we make the most of the Scout oath and law. You can’t hide from or lie to the Scout oath and law. Create shared expectations in this context and see what happens. Scouters can’t allow all issues to hinge on their personal judgement. If we reserve the right to punish or sanction behavior with our own judgement we miss out on the most powerful and transformative potential of our work. Naturally there are situations when you must be the adult and put a stop to dangerous or inappropriate behavior immediately. We also don’t accept every decision or every idea simply because it originated with a Scout. Everything we do has to be within the rules and aims of the game of Scouting. Scouters have to study these rules and be fully versed in the aim of our work to be the most effective guides for their Scouts. We don’t wield the power of our own judgement to reward or punish our Scouts. Scouters don’t disqualify them or sanction them. We count on the Scout oath and law. When you step aside and allow it to be the most powerful player in the game things start changing for the better. Listen to this week’s podcast This podcast is brought to you by Patrons & Backers Podcast Notes Guide to Advancement Happy Wanderer Opening Music Get my book The Scouting Journey Get my book So Far So Good The post Podcast 373 – Create Shared Expectations appeared first on Scoutmastercg.com.

Create shared expectations and you’ll have a happy troop. In this week’s podcast I answer an email question about a behavior problem. A problem that would never happen if those involved shared expectations. Ask Scouts to analyze their behavior in light of the Scout oath and law. Listen carefully, ask questions, listen more, share your thoughts, and leave this discussion with a very clear set of shared expectations. The same applies to evaluating the “judgement call” requirements like Scout spirit and active participation. We should not make judgment calls based on our own observations alone. Evaluating Scout Spirit is a prime example. Ask the Scout to explain the concept to you, ask them to use points of the Scout oath and law to evaluate themselves and see if you agree with that evaluation. It’s very likely that 99 out of 100 times you will agree with the Scout. If you don’t agree then tell the Scout precisely why, illustrating your thoughts with the oath and law. Continue asking questions until you create shared expectations of how the requirement will be met. Each Scout will have a slightly different take on the situation at hand, and if you listen long enough to what they say you discover a great many things about them and about yourself. Most Scouters begin with the idea that they are responsible for shaping and controlling behavior and evaluating performance. They dictate a set of expectations that their Scouts may or may not share setting up a confrontation down the road. When Scouts evaluate their own behavior and performance against the Scout oath and law they are actively forming their character.  You can actually see character forming, sometimes you can almost see smoke coming out of their ears as they reference and build an internal standard. You can see the lights come on. Most Scout-aged children do not have any other opportunity to exercise this internal standard in any meaningful way. Most of what they do and how they live is dictated to them by adults or by the uncertainties of what is cool or acceptable to their peers. When you begin doing this it will seem like another adult trick, they will not really understand what is going on. They have learned not to trust adults, because adults have absolute power and have no problem welding that power to get their own way. When we recognize and trust a Scout we make the most of the Scout oath and law. You can’t hide from or lie to the Scout oath and law. Create shared expectations in this context and see what happens. Scouters can’t allow all issues to hinge on their personal judgement. If we reserve the right to punish or sanction behavior with our own judgement we miss out on the most powerful and transformative potential of our work. Naturally there are situations when you must be the adult and put a stop to dangerous or inappropriate behavior immediately. We also don’t accept every decision or every idea simply because it originated with a Scout. Everything we do has to be within the rules and aims of the game of Scouting. Scouters have to study these rules and be fully versed in the aim of our work to be the most effective guides for their Scouts. We don’t wield the power of our own judgement to reward or punish our Scouts. Scouters don’t disqualify them or sanction them. We count on the Scout oath and law. When you step aside and allow it to be the most powerful player in the game things start changing for the better. Listen to this week’s podcastThis podcast is brought to you by Patrons & BackersPodcast Notes Guide to Advancement Happy Wanderer Opening Music Get my book The Scouting Journey Get my book So Far So Good The post Podcast 373 – Create Shared Expectations appeared first on Scoutmastercg.com.       

When thinking about Eagle Scout advancement … .. we ought to ask “what is an Eagle Scout?” rather than “who deserves to be an Eagle Scout?” The answer to the question “who deserves to be an Eagle Scout?” is easy; any Scout who completes the requirements. That’s it. No more and no less. There’s no Eagle-plus, and no Eagle minus, only Eagle. When you understand that Eagle Scout Advancement becomes less stressful. None of the 55,494 Eagle badges handed out last year went to a Scout because they deserved it, but because they earned it. Nobody becomes and Eagle Scout because they deserve it, it’s not the Nobel or the Pulitzer prize handed out to a few deserving winners. You don’t win Eagle Scout, you advance towards it. When a Scout fulfills all of the requirements and passes a duly constituted board of review they receive the award. It was not my job to decide who deserves the badge, only to recognize they have completed the requirements. The 55,494 Scouts who earned their Eagle last year did not do precisely the same quality or quantity of work. They were not all equally meritorious. Each had individual limitations and talents. Each had parents and worked with Scouters whose involvement and skill were all over the map. A healthy percentage of them left a lot of work until the last few months of their seventeenth year. When we present a Scout with an Eagle badge we recognize two things – achievement and potential. We are telling a Scout that what you have achieved is a strong indication you have potential to embody the ideals the award represents. Listen to this week’s podcast This podcast is brought to you by Patrons & Backers Podcast Notes BSA FAQ on girls in Scout Troops  I am a Sasquatch music from last week’s podcast Bobwhite Blather Spring Advancement Updates Spring Advancement News Newsletter from the National Advancement Team Happy Wanderer Opening Music Get my book The Scouting Journey Get my book So Far So Good The post Podcast 372 – Eagle Scout Advancement appeared first on Scoutmastercg.com.

When thinking about Eagle Scout advancement … .. we ought to ask “what is an Eagle Scout?” rather than “who deserves to be an Eagle Scout?” The answer to the question “who deserves to be an Eagle Scout?” is easy; any Scout who completes the requirements. That’s it. No more and no less. There’s no Eagle-plus, and no Eagle minus, only Eagle. When you understand that Eagle Scout Advancement becomes less stressful. None of the 55,494 Eagle badges handed out last year went to a Scout because they deserved it, but because they earned it. Nobody becomes and Eagle Scout because they deserve it, it’s not the Nobel or the Pulitzer prize handed out to a few deserving winners. You don’t win Eagle Scout, you advance towards it. When a Scout fulfills all of the requirements and passes a duly constituted board of review they receive the award. It was not my job to decide who deserves the badge, only to recognize they have completed the requirements. The 55,494 Scouts who earned their Eagle last year did not do precisely the same quality or quantity of work. They were not all equally meritorious. Each had individual limitations and talents. Each had parents and worked with Scouters whose involvement and skill were all over the map. A healthy percentage of them left a lot of work until the last few months of their seventeenth year. When we present a Scout with an Eagle badge we recognize two things – achievement and potential. We are telling a Scout that what you have achieved is a strong indication you have potential to embody the ideals the award represents. Listen to this week’s podcast This podcast is brought to you by Patrons & Backers Podcast Notes BSA FAQ on girls in Scout Troops  I am a Sasquatch music from last week’s podcast Bobwhite Blather Spring Advancement Updates Spring Advancement News Newsletter from the National Advancement Team Happy Wanderer Opening Music Get my book The Scouting Journey Get my book So Far So Good The post Podcast 372 – Eagle Scout Advancement appeared first on Scoutmastercg.com.

When thinking about Eagle Scout advancement … .. we ought to ask “what is an Eagle Scout?” rather than “who deserves to be an Eagle Scout?” The answer to the question “who deserves to be an Eagle Scout?” is easy; any Scout who completes the requirements. That’s it. No more and no less. There’s no Eagle-plus, and no Eagle minus, only Eagle. When you understand that Eagle Scout Advancement becomes less stressful. None of the 55,494 Eagle badges handed out last year went to a Scout because they deserved it, but because they earned it. Nobody becomes and Eagle Scout because they deserve it, it’s not the Nobel or the Pulitzer prize handed out to a few deserving winners. You don’t win Eagle Scout, you advance towards it. When a Scout fulfills all of the requirements and passes a duly constituted board of review they receive the award. It was not my job to decide who deserves the badge, only to recognize they have completed the requirements. The 55,494 Scouts who earned their Eagle last year did not do precisely the same quality or quantity of work. They were not all equally meritorious. Each had individual limitations and talents. Each had parents and worked with Scouters whose involvement and skill were all over the map. A healthy percentage of them left a lot of work until the last few months of their seventeenth year. When we present a Scout with an Eagle badge we recognize two things – achievement and potential. We are telling a Scout that what you have achieved is a strong indication you have potential to embody the ideals the award represents. Listen to this week’s podcastThis podcast is brought to you by Patrons & BackersPodcast Notes BSA FAQ on girls in Scout Troops  I am a Sasquatch music from last week’s podcast Bobwhite Blather Spring Advancement Updates Spring Advancement News Newsletter from the National Advancement Team Happy Wanderer Opening Music Get my book The Scouting Journey Get my book So Far So Good The post Podcast 372 – Eagle Scout Advancement appeared first on Scoutmastercg.com.       

Webelos dens as patrols and more older Scout issues … Catching up on email questions this week I’ll talk about Webelos dens working the patrol method and discuss the causes of at least some older Scout problems. (If you listen very carefully you may detect a rant this week). Over thirty years ago I had 18 Webelos in my Webelos den.  I survived that year (as did many of the Webelos). Webelos is challenging and fun, enjoy the moment, don’t get ahead of your Webelos and don’t treat the experience as junior boy Scouts. The next few years fly by, don’t miss a minute. What do you do when you see all the older Scouts hanging around shooting the breeze at their own table during troop meetings? One Scouter tries to approach the problem. They are stymied by adults who don’t seem to see a problem and Scouts who, while willing, are prevented from making any headway by adults who do everything for them. I’ll also share some messages from the mailbag. Listen to this week’s podcast This podcast is brought to you by Patrons & Backers Podcast Notes Happy Wanderer Opening Music Get my book The Scouting Journey Get my book So Far So Good The post Podcast 371 – Webelos Patrols and Older Scout Issues appeared first on Scoutmastercg.com.

Webelos dens as patrols and more older Scout issues … Catching up on email questions this week I’ll talk about Webelos dens working the patrol method and discuss the causes of at least some older Scout problems. (If you listen very carefully you may detect a rant this week). Over thirty years ago I had 18 Webelos in my Webelos den.  I survived that year (as did many of the Webelos). Webelos is challenging and fun, enjoy the moment, don’t get ahead of your Webelos and don’t treat the experience as junior boy Scouts. The next few years fly by, don’t miss a minute. What do you do when you see all the older Scouts hanging around shooting the breeze at their own table during troop meetings? One Scouter tries to approach the problem. They are stymied by adults who don’t seem to see a problem and Scouts who, while willing, are prevented from making any headway by adults who do everything for them. I’ll also share some messages from the mailbag. Listen to this week’s podcast This podcast is brought to you by Patrons & Backers Podcast Notes Happy Wanderer Opening Music Get my book The Scouting Journey Get my book So Far So Good The post Podcast 371 – Webelos Patrols and Older Scout Issues appeared first on Scoutmastercg.com.

Webelos dens as patrols and more older Scout issues … Catching up on email questions this week I’ll talk about Webelos dens working the patrol method and discuss the causes of at least some older Scout problems. (If you listen very carefully you may detect a rant this week). Over thirty years ago I had 18 Webelos in my Webelos den.  I survived that year (as did many of the Webelos). Webelos is challenging and fun, enjoy the moment, don’t get ahead of your Webelos and don’t treat the experience as junior boy Scouts. The next few years fly by, don’t miss a minute. What do you do when you see all the older Scouts hanging around shooting the breeze at their own table during troop meetings? One Scouter tries to approach the problem. They are stymied by adults who don’t seem to see a problem and Scouts who, while willing, are prevented from making any headway by adults who do everything for them. I’ll also share some messages from the mailbag. Listen to this week’s podcastThis podcast is brought to you by Patrons & BackersPodcast Notes Happy Wanderer Opening Music Get my book The Scouting Journey Get my book So Far So Good The post Podcast 371 – Webelos Patrols and Older Scout Issues appeared first on Scoutmastercg.com.       

Working with older Scouts between the ages of 14-18 … … is both challenging and rewarding. What interests keep them involved? Simply turning up the ‘wow’ factor doesn’t do much to keep them engaged, because they are looking for much more than fun. Respecting and understanding what older Scouts need takes patient observation and an open dialogue.  Our expectations of older Scouts are often very different than what they are looking for. Older Scouts continue to need direction, but they want independence. They strive to win our trust and confidence while they develop decision making skills. They need us to be responsible, caring, and fair adults. Their interest in Scouting is still strong, but it is different than younger Scouts. Scouting can be a refuge from some of the expectations and pressures that push and pull on young people at this age. When Scouters act like bosses, drill sergeants, or teachers older Scouts walk away. When Scouters join their journey towards responsible adulthood they will remain involved.  If we remain accepting and optimistic we’ll see the contributions they are making to their family, their community, and their fellow Scouts Listen to this week’s podcast This podcast is brought to you by Patrons & Backers Podcast Notes Happy Wanderer Opening Music Get my book The Scouting Journey Get my book So Far So Good The post Podcast 370 – Working With Older Scouts appeared first on Scoutmastercg.com.

Working with older Scouts between the ages of 14-18 … … is both challenging and rewarding. What interests keep them involved? Simply turning up the ‘wow’ factor doesn’t do much to keep them engaged, because they are looking for much more than fun. Respecting and understanding what older Scouts need takes patient observation and an open dialogue.  Our expectations of older Scouts are often very different than what they are looking for. Older Scouts continue to need direction, but they want independence. They strive to win our trust and confidence while they develop decision making skills. They need us to be responsible, caring, and fair adults. Their interest in Scouting is still strong, but it is different than younger Scouts. Scouting can be a refuge from some of the expectations and pressures that push and pull on young people at this age. When Scouters act like bosses, drill sergeants, or teachers older Scouts walk away. When Scouters join their journey towards responsible adulthood they will remain involved.  If we remain accepting and optimistic we’ll see the contributions they are making to their family, their community, and their fellow Scouts Listen to this week’s podcast This podcast is brought to you by Patrons & Backers Podcast Notes Happy Wanderer Opening Music Get my book The Scouting Journey Get my book So Far So Good The post Podcast 370 – Working With Older Scouts appeared first on Scoutmastercg.com.

Working with older Scouts between the ages of 14-18 … … is both challenging and rewarding. What interests keep them involved? Simply turning up the ‘wow’ factor doesn’t do much to keep them engaged, because they are looking for much more than fun. Respecting and understanding what older Scouts need takes patient observation and an open dialogue.  Our expectations of older Scouts are often very different than what they are looking for. Older Scouts continue to need direction, but they want independence. They strive to win our trust and confidence while they develop decision making skills. They need us to be responsible, caring, and fair adults. Their interest in Scouting is still strong, but it is different than younger Scouts. Scouting can be a refuge from some of the expectations and pressures that push and pull on young people at this age. When Scouters act like bosses, drill sergeants, or teachers older Scouts walk away. When Scouters join their journey towards responsible adulthood they will remain involved.  If we remain accepting and optimistic we’ll see the contributions they are making to their family, their community, and their fellow Scouts Listen to this week’s podcastThis podcast is brought to you by Patrons & BackersPodcast Notes Happy Wanderer Opening Music Get my book The Scouting Journey Get my book So Far So Good The post Podcast 370 – Working With Older Scouts appeared first on Scoutmastercg.com.       

Email questions! I’ll answer email questions concerning patrols and planning in this week’s podcast. I think what most of us want is patrols with long storied histories, stable membership, and high functioning Scouts. It’s my suspicion these kinds of patrols only exist in the pages of handbook. I had a dog eared copy the 1940’s era Patrol Leader’s Handbook as a kid. It’s illustrated with line drawings and cartoons of a bunch of cheery fellows doing great things in an orderly fashion. It depicts an idealized patrol that never was. I chased that idealized patrol for a long time. None of my patrols reached that state of idealized perfection although I had even had a glimpse of it now and then. Eventually I learned to encourage my patrols without chasing an idealized version of something that never actually existed. Another listener asks about patrols and planning when it comes to independent patrol camping trips. they want to know if I would consider limiting options for this sort of thing a usurpation of Scout leadership. I don’t have any argument with defining the choices. We play a specific game on a specific field of play and this limits our choices, you may say it lends focus to our activities. Listen to this week’s podcast This podcast is brought to you by Patrons & Backers Podcast Notes Happy Wanderer Opening Music Get my book The Scouting Journey Get my book So Far So Good The post Podcast 369- Patrols and Planning appeared first on Scoutmastercg.com.

Email questions! I’ll answer email questions concerning patrols and planning in this week’s podcast. I think what most of us want is patrols with long storied histories, stable membership, and high functioning Scouts. It’s my suspicion these kinds of patrols only exist in the pages of handbook. I had a dog eared copy the 1940’s era Patrol Leader’s Handbook as a kid. It’s illustrated with line drawings and cartoons of a bunch of cheery fellows doing great things in an orderly fashion. It depicts an idealized patrol that never was. I chased that idealized patrol for a long time. None of my patrols reached that state of idealized perfection although I had even had a glimpse of it now and then. Eventually I learned to encourage my patrols without chasing an idealized version of something that never actually existed. Another listener asks about patrols and planning when it comes to independent patrol camping trips. they want to know if I would consider limiting options for this sort of thing a usurpation of Scout leadership. I don’t have any argument with defining the choices. We play a specific game on a specific field of play and this limits our choices, you may say it lends focus to our activities. Listen to this week’s podcast This podcast is brought to you by Patrons & Backers Podcast Notes Happy Wanderer Opening Music Get my book The Scouting Journey Get my book So Far So Good The post Podcast 369- Patrols and Planning appeared first on Scoutmastercg.com.

Email questions! I’ll answer email questions concerning patrols and planning in this week’s podcast. I think what most of us want is patrols with long storied histories, stable membership, and high functioning Scouts. It’s my suspicion these kinds of patrols only exist in the pages of handbook. I had a dog eared copy the 1940’s era Patrol Leader’s Handbook as a kid. It’s illustrated with line drawings and cartoons of a bunch of cheery fellows doing great things in an orderly fashion. It depicts an idealized patrol that never was. I chased that idealized patrol for a long time. None of my patrols reached that state of idealized perfection although I had even had a glimpse of it now and then. Eventually I learned to encourage my patrols without chasing an idealized version of something that never actually existed. Another listener asks about patrols and planning when it comes to independent patrol camping trips. they want to know if I would consider limiting options for this sort of thing a usurpation of Scout leadership. I don’t have any argument with defining the choices. We play a specific game on a specific field of play and this limits our choices, you may say it lends focus to our activities. Listen to this week’s podcastThis podcast is brought to you by Patrons & BackersPodcast Notes Happy Wanderer Opening Music Get my book The Scouting Journey Get my book So Far So Good The post Podcast 369- Patrols and Planning appeared first on Scoutmastercg.com.       

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. We don’t need rules and regulations when it comes to discipline, and we don’t want them. Scouts find all kinds of ways around rules and regulations. It’s not as easy to find a way around your own conscience. Rules and regulations are imposed impersonally, the Scout Oath and Law are adopted personally. Constructive discipline is defined by the Scout oath and law. Scouts learn we are woking with living principles rather than words we repeat dryly during ceremonies. How do we apply constructive discipline, require accountability and promote responsibility? My answer is twofold – be an adult and be kind. When problems arise my best practical advice is working things out by asking lots and lots of questions and helping the Scout understand the implications of his actions. In almost every case the Scout will work things out with very little prompting. Compassion and kindness are not weakness, they are a strong influence in our lives, and at the heart of applying constructive discipline. Listen to this week’s podcast This podcast is brought to you by Patrons & Backers Podcast Notes Happy Wanderer Opening Music Get my book The Scouting Journey Get my book So Far So Good The post Podcast 368- Constructive Discipline appeared first on Scoutmastercg.com.

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. We don’t need rules and regulations when it comes to discipline, and we don’t want them. Scouts find all kinds of ways around rules and regulations. It’s not as easy to find a way around your own conscience. Rules and regulations are imposed impersonally, the Scout Oath and Law are adopted personally. Constructive discipline is defined by the Scout oath and law. Scouts learn we are woking with living principles rather than words we repeat dryly during ceremonies. How do we apply constructive discipline, require accountability and promote responsibility? My answer is twofold – be an adult and be kind. When problems arise my best practical advice is working things out by asking lots and lots of questions and helping the Scout understand the implications of his actions. In almost every case the Scout will work things out with very little prompting. Compassion and kindness are not weakness, they are a strong influence in our lives, and at the heart of applying constructive discipline. Listen to this week’s podcast This podcast is brought to you by Patrons & Backers Podcast Notes Happy Wanderer Opening Music Get my book The Scouting Journey Get my book So Far So Good The post Podcast 368- Constructive Discipline appeared first on Scoutmastercg.com.