This is content first appeared on my Facebook page regarding my Scout, Joshua, and his most recent camping adventure. I’m reposting it here for saving.
Scout Camp 7/14/17-7/15/17
Joshua and his scout troop had a local campout last night. Josh came home exhausted and said it was great, and said the boys were up almost all night.
I later heard that some of the other parents were angry that their son had stayed up late and were subsequently tired all day today. Apparently this anger was directed at the Scoutmaster. If true, I think that it is misplaced.
I’ll talk in generalities because I don’t know which parents/child this story refers to. Those… names weren’t part of the telling that I heard. and it doesn’t really matter. Regardless, having been a 12-13 yr old scout, and having a 12 yr old son right now, in my opinion if blame is to be had for lack of sleep on the scouts part (including my own scout) the blame rests with the SCOUT.
Scouting and responsibility
As my scout relayed it to me, they were told of the curfew, and they were called in from their playing and told that they were past their curfew. Unless you think that a Scoutmaster should be tucking them all into bed, then I think he did his job just fine. The entire program is designed for the boys to be in charge and making the decisions.
I know not everyone parents the same, but I expect my Scout to be trained how to think and act for himself. To learn the relationship between responsibility and consequences. A Scoutmaster isn’t a babysitter, and Scouts aren’t babies. They should be allowed to make choices and be held accountable for them – good and bad.
If your scout is informed, and reminded, but chooses to ignore, then it is on them! Unless their behavior is in someway immoral or injurious, I would want a Scoutmaster to let the Scouts make their own decisions and live with the consequences. Staying up late isn’t injurious, and isn’t in any way immoral or inherently bad/wrong. So give the boys responsibilities and let them THEM be held accountable.
That seems like a good way to help these men who are young turn into men who are great! And I think our Scoutmaster is doing a GREAT job of helping make that happen.
Thanks Gregory Robert Adams!
This post got nothing but positive comments and “likes” on Facebook. I hope that is an indication that others are trying to raise their sons with the same sense of responsibility that I’m trying to raise mine with.
I hope it didn’t bring any embarrassment to our great Scoutmaster Greg. He does a great job with our boys. I know that my son for one really thinks highly of him.