Dangerous Boys

[fgoodwin]

Dangerous Boys

 

http://livingthegrandlife.blogspot.com/2007/06/dangerous-boys.html

http://tinyurl.com/yrbdac

 

Tuesday, June 19, 2007

 

You have read the stories in the news. (car fires & more)

 

Police are seeking information about a spate of vehicle fires north and west of Lincoln Park early Sunday morning.

 

Eleven vehicles and a Dumpster were set ablaze between 4 and 6:10 a.m

 

Ill make a prediction. When they catch the culprits it will turn out to be an informal gang of unsupervised boys looking for trouble. Even if Im wrong in this instance, weve seen this kind of thing before. Windows broken or mailboxes randomly destroyed for the fun of it.

 

There are no quick fixes. Building a rec center wont keep this from happening.

 

At the same time I was reading about the fires, I received a notice from Amazon that they were shipping a book I had ordered. The book is titled, The Dangerous Book for Boys.

 

The book has had a bit of play on different websites. It promises politically incorrect humor and adventure. It even includes a section on "How to hunt and cook a rabbit".

 

I plan to read it and pass it on to my nephew and his three sons. I also plan on passing on my treasured 1959 copy of the Boy Scout Handbook. It teaches boys how to use a knife and build a fire. It even has advertisements for rifles and shotguns.

 

If you are still with me you are probably wondering how these topics fit together.

 

Boys, like puppies, are driven to explore their world. It is easy for them to get into trouble. When I worked for the Division of Youth Corrections, I dealt with a lot of boys in trouble. Some had started fires, boys like fire. No one had ever taught then to build a fire safely. Boys are fascinated with guns, but no one had taught them firearm safety. The first time some of them had fired a gun was at another person. Never having instruction or experience they had no idea what would happen. Schools have zero tolerance for knifes and a Swiss army knife will earn the boot. Yet, I've carried a knife since I was eight. My grandfather gave me a pocket knife (and instruction). He said, "A man should always have knife". I still think so.

 

I think our experiment in changing the nature of boys hasnt worked too well. Boys need a little danger. They need to learn to build a fire even if they sustain a little burn. They need to learn how to use a knife and an ax, even if they cut themselves.

 

And they need to learn it in a context of responsibility. The Boy Scout Handbook isnt just about dangerous things. It is also full of honor and duty to God and Country, to self and others. Reading parts of the book again I am surprised at how little schools and society talk about such things now.

 

We have tried zero tolerance and wishful thinking. It may be politically incorrect, but I think every boy should own a knife, know how to shoot a gun, build a fire and learn the concepts of duty and honor.

 

Posted by Gene Kinsey at 6:03 AM

[Gunny2862]

Well said!

Look the truth is that any uncontrolled substance, water, air, boys, can be dangerous when it acts outside of a system with boundaries. And our current method of dealing with them as a society is to say that they have the right to be left alone, to find their own path - an idea I really don't have much of a problem with.

Except that is has always been done before within a framework of acceptable behavior, guided by adults who let them fail and then offered 1)guidance about how and when they crossed any boundaries (if applicable) 2)advice about fixing the problem only when asked or when it was obvious that the boys had exceeded their capability 3)if they had erred and just were stumped that is a part of learning too.

B-P said that "boys will naturally form packs" and run as they will, isn't it better that we promulgate Scouting and programs like ScoutReach to these and all kids?

I don't think I'm dressed if I don't have my pocketknife in the same way as when I don't have my watch. Remember the first/ only time you handed you knife to your dad with the blade first? I still do.