Title: INTERNET SCOUTING
Author: Michael F. Bowman
Company: Attorney at Law

SCOUTS-L
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DRUG USE

Date:         Sun, 9 Mar 1997 23:27:44 -0500
From: "H. Alan Schup" <aschup@WHY.NET>
Subject:      Re: The ones you try to help the most!!

I had a very similar problem in my troop last week.  Advancing in the
troop was one of my scout's therapy goals to better his life off of drugs.
Here is my 2 cents:

1) The boy and parents need to know about possession and drug use
   during Scouting events will not be tollerated.  Next time the
   police, then the parents will be called.  Since he has become more
   than just a discipline problem, require that the parents attend
   each and every Scout function.
2) A DARE officer needs to have 15-20 minutes in front of ALL the scouts
   at a troop meeting.  This may reduce the damage the scout did as a
   bad example for others.  Start the Crime Prevention Merit Badge and
   tie into the "Drugs, a Deadly Game" program.
3) We adult leaders are not PHD psycologists being paid, so admit that
   sometimes helping a boy is outside of our control.  Let him go if
   it comes to it.  Concentrate on the other scouts in conference and
   BoR about Loyalty, Helpful, Obedient, Brave,... about instantly
   getting an adult's attention should something this serious occur.

>I learned from my son that he has been smoking crack at the firehouse
>where we hold our meetings, in front of the other scouts in the
>restrooms, during the meetings. (promised I would tell no one to get
>that one out of him!) Trustworthy just went down the drain :(
>

Any other ideas, folks.  As SM, this is what I would ask my PLC to consider.
-Alan Schup

Date:         Sun, 9 Mar 1997 20:42:24 -0500
From: "Steven G. Tyler" <sgtyler@EROLS.COM>
Subject:      Re: The ones you try to help the most!!

Glenn, my heart goes out to you.  I know how hard it is to invest in
someone who does not seem to respond.  Whatever the result, you are to
be commended for the effort.

A couple of reactions: first, it would seem you (and Scouting) have had
some influence -- his behaviour seemed better in the Scouting context
than elsewhere.  For that I believe you can take some consolation.
However, with that said, I guess I tend to agree with your collegue.
For a Scout-age boy to be violently disruptive at school, using serious
drugs and profanely disrespecting authority -- these are not problems
the Scouting program was designed to handle.  This boy seems to need
professional intervention, and insisting on keeping him in the Scouting
program notwithstanding his behaviour will do him little good, and can
seriously jeopardize the program for the other Scouts.  I'm not
suggesting a surgical removal or unilateral action, simply insisting
that he meet the program requirements without excuses or apology.

--
YIS
        Steve on Cattail Creek

        sgtyler@erols.com