Behavior problems disrupting meeting

[robsears]

Over the last several years our troop has grown 3 fold. With this growth has come some behavior/discipline problems. I would like to hear from other leaders just how they handle behaviorial problems or disrespectful scouts in troop meetings. Do some units have a written code of coduct which is provided to the scout and his parent upon joining the troop? How do we get control of a problem that was not attacked soon enough? R. Sears

[Tiny1pj]

A lot of how to handle the problem is specific to the individual boy. If the problem is "emotional" or a REAL medical problem (mental retardation, ADHD, etc.), you and your leaders need training in learning how to deal with these young men.

As the father of 2 boys, one with ADHD, I can tell you it can get very trying. The best thing to do is set limits, and not allow anything beyond the limits. If pushed, either a "time out" or even sending him home (since we meet in my home, I send him to his room - no tv, no games).

With one extremely disruptive boy, I sent a note home with him that he could not attend any more den meetings without a responsible adult. This helped for quite a while.

 

If it is a case of boys getting out of hand, maybe it is time to "lay down the law" - however it must be with their input. Let them start making the rules of behavior, along with the consequences (within reason!). Make suggestions to them as they are making these rules, if necessary adding why a rule (do not lean back in the chair because of the injury potential - remember Charlie last week?) or that it is a sponsoring organization rule (clean up and put all chairs back when done).

 

Your PLC would be a good place to address this issue as well. Remind them that this is not a gang of hoodlums. Ask them how their behavior is an example of the scout law/oath/motto/slogan. Find ways for them to see where the bad behavior us a problem.

 

Remember that they are boys and do need to let of some steam, but in a safe and appropriate manner.

 

Paul Johnson

[Mike Long]

Many moons ago our troop had that problem and I wrote up a set of troop bylaws. In effect it said that the Scout Oath and Law was indeed the ruling force in the troop and in the conduct expected of scouts. It also stated that highly disruptive scouts would be sent home IMMEDIATELY from ANY scout event if the behaviour was so bad that the Adult leaders felt that it was necessary. Parents were expected to come and get their boy immediately regardless of where we were or the time of day(or night).

 

However, I would like to go on the record as saying that I hate troop bylaws. Frequently bylaws lock your leadership into rigid modes of operation that I don't think will benefit the boys as well as a flexible approach. Flexability has worked a lot better for me than the rigid approach, but never forget that WRONG IS WRONG and that there ALWAYS needs to be consequences for doing wrong. In my mind we all have a set of bylaws; The Scout Oath and Law says it all. All we need to do is to enforce them.

 

I would also like to take Tiny's suggestion of taking the issue up with the PLC further. The PLC is the FIRST place this should come up. BP didn't call Patrol Leader the "Most difficult job in Scouting" for nothing. Dealing with disruptive Scouts is a part of the job of the PLC. Only when the situation gets away from their abilities should the adults step in. Discuss the Oath and Law and what needs to be done to encourage the boys to live it.

 

Good luck Rob, please keep us posted as to your solution.

[jmcquillan]

Years ago, we had a boy in the troop who had Tourets Syndrome. He wanted to be in Scouting, but his behavior problem was such that, with none of the troop leaders being trained in any profession dealing with that kind of behavior, we opted to require at least one of his parents to be in attendance at any Scout function their son attended. We didn't, and still don't, think that this was too large a requirement. Volunteering to be a Scout leader should not also require one to become a trained behavioral specialist. In this case, that parents agreed. They felt that they would do just about anything to help the boy, especially where his problem would ostracize him from many activities. So, in that type of case, I'd suggest making the parents a part of the troop through that avenue. They become responsible for keeping their own sons behavior at acceptable levels. It even helps the rest of the boys in the troop come to understand what the one boy is going through, and the other adults.

 

When it comes to "normal" boys who either just decide to be ornery, disrespectful, or some other kind of problem, we really need to find a basis for any discipline meeted out in the Scout Oath and Law, and that's not all that hard to do, as long as we understand the Oath and Law ourselves. The key thing to remember is that the one problem boy can not take over and gain all the attention of the adult leaders to the detriment of the rest of the troop.

[sst3rd]

Over many years, our Troop has had the varied levels of disruptive Scouts. When a Scout joins, he and his parents are informed of the limits. The Patrol Leader, as part of his training, is given parameters at which he will have the Scout removed from his Patrol, either for the meeting or for a longer period. The Patrol Leader is told that his priority is his Patrol and their Scout planned program, and that a Scout does not have the right to disrupt it. Parents are always notified, and a adult meeting suggested. I've had to deal with parents trying to explain why their son is out of control, but they also fully expected the Troop's program to allow it. Medication is always brought up, but I've always responded (with our Troop Committee's approval) that the Scout has to behave within the limits, with or without his medication. This is a boy run program, and it would be impossible for the Patrols to operate their programs, when a disruptive Scout was allowed to participate. The responsibility level demanded by the program and parents, both for the youth and adult leaders, is extremely high. I came close to organizing Troop Bylaws, but felt the flexibility of the program would no longer exist. We take it on a Scout by Scout basis, with the parent(s). It ain't going to get any better.

[Rooster7]

In my experience, the dilemma stems from the ability (or inability) of the boy leaders to determine crime and punishment fairly. Discipline is metered out sporadically and inconsistently. While I agree the Scout Law and the Scout Oath is a good base. It does not provide the necessary guidance for a 12-year old Patrol Leader. Most troops would benefit greatly from a set of known behavioral rules, and of course, a set of known consequences. This would give new Patrol leaders the guidance they need. It would also ensure evenhanded discipline across the Troop, from one Patrol to another.