ssovnivek

SMT224, I was a scout in the 1980's. I am now an adult leader. I haven't noticed any changes in the blue cards that are used to day from the one's that I used almost 30 years ago. Hope that helps.

I am the SM of a Troop that has seen our share of discipline problems ranging from foul language to physical assault. We have gone as far as to remove Scouts from events (Summer Camp) to expelling Scouts from the Troop. Each time we have had to resort to "extreme" levels of discipline, we have involved the SM, CC, offending Scout(s) and the parent's of the Scout involved. In the one instance when we removed a Scout from the Troop, he was allowed to rejoin the Troop about 6-months later with a written apology and the assurance that a parent would be present at each event/meeting that the Scout was on. We're now experiencing enough "minor" discipline problems that we are considering implementing a 3-strike policy for minor infractions (name calling, insubordination, etc.). Does anyone have any experience with this sort of approach? I'm curious as to how well it has (or hasn't) worked for others.

Thanks, all for the responses. Our troop is at summer camp right now, and I know most of the adults who are there with them have expressed a willingness in helping this scout with his swimming issue. His issue isn't that he has a fear of water as he jumped right into the pool at the local Y when we did our swimming pre-cert tests. I know this youth has participated in lessons before, but the instruction method left something to be desired (something about not teaching the kids the basic swimming strok/how to kick and requiring them to wear floaties all the time). I think if given enough instruction at summer camp, he might be able to squeak through well enough to advance. Thanks again.

I have a boy in my troop who has been stuck at 2nd Class for a year because he can't swim well enough to pass the BSA swimmers test and his parents don't have the resources to get him lessons. He can pass the beginner test, but that doesn't satisfy the rank requirement. The scout has no interest in attending Sea Base or doing any water related activites. His mom is considering pulling him out of the troop because it's "pointless" for him to continue without being able to advance. Dad, a former Boy Scout and Eagle Scout, is less convinced to do that. The rank requirement has changed since the days when dad was in Boy Scouts, there was no swimming requirement for 1st Class (the skill award was optional), and that requirement would have prevented him from obtaining Eagle. Are there any thoughts on how to proceed with this situation? Do I advance the boy because it isn't his fault that they don't have the resources (i.e. money or access to a pool) to get lessons? Or do I let mom win and lose a promising young scout who could go far in his "career" to a life of video games, etc?