From <@tcuavm.is.tcu.edu:owner-scouts-l@TCUBVM.IS.TCU.EDU> Tue Apr 7 08:48:45 1998 Return-Path: <@tcuavm.is.tcu.edu:owner-scouts-l@TCUBVM.IS.TCU.EDU> Received: from tcuavm.is.tcu.edu (TCUAVM.IS.TCU.EDU [138.237.128.148]) by cap1.CapAccess.org (8.6.12/8.6.10) with SMTP id IAA27802 for ; Tue, 7 Apr 1998 08:48:45 -0400 Received: from TCUBVM.IS.TCU.EDU by tcuavm.is.tcu.edu (IBM VM SMTP V2R2) with BSMTP id 1120; Tue, 07 Apr 98 04:44:22 CDT Received: from TCUBVM.IS.TCU.EDU (NJE origin LISTSERV@TCUBVM) by TCUBVM.IS.TCU.EDU (LMail V1.2a/1.8a) with BSMTP id 6909; Tue, 7 Apr 1998 04:44:11 -0500 Received: from TCUBVM.IS.TCU.EDU by TCUBVM.IS.TCU.EDU (LISTSERV release 1.8b) with NJE id 6012 for SCOUTS-L@TCUBVM.IS.TCU.EDU; Tue, 7 Apr 1998 04:43:16 -0500 Received: from TCUBVM (NJE origin SMTP@TCUBVM) by TCUBVM.IS.TCU.EDU (LMail V1.2a/1.8a) with BSMTP id 6011; Mon, 6 Apr 1998 20:44:15 -0500 Received: from ALPHA.IS.TCU.EDU by tcubvm.is.tcu.edu (IBM VM SMTP V2R2) with TCP; Mon, 06 Apr 98 20:43:24 CDT Received: from camel8.mindspring.com (camel8.mindspring.com) by ALPHA.IS.TCU.EDU (PMDF V5.0-5 #20456) id <01IVK9948KHC00EN2Q@ALPHA.IS.TCU.EDU> for scouts-l@ALPHA.IS.TCU.EDU; Mon, 06 Apr 1998 20:43:14 -0600 (CST) Received: from default (pool-207-205-195-34_wlhm.grid.net [207.205.195.34]) by camel8.mindspring.com (8.8.5/8.8.5) with SMTP id VAA22167 for ; Mon, 06 Apr 1998 21:43:05 -0400 (EDT) X-Sender: mcgarrah@pop.mindspring.com MIME-version: 1.0 X-Mailer: Windows Eudora Light Version 3.0.1 (32) Content-type: text/plain; charset="us-ascii" Content-transfer-encoding: 7BIT Message-ID: <3.0.1.32.19980406214001.007df330@pop.mindspring.com> Date: Mon, 6 Apr 1998 21:40:01 -0400 Reply-To: "Craig R. McGarrah" Sender: Scouts-L Youth Group List From: "Craig R. McGarrah" Subject: Pack Discipline (long) X-To: scouts-l@tcu.edu To: Multiple recipients of list SCOUTS-L Status: RO X-Status: >Date: Mon, 06 Apr 1998 21:29:57 -0400 >To: Stanley Dunn , scoutsl >From: "Craig R. McGarrah" >Subject: Pack Discipline (long) >In-Reply-To: > >At 01:23 PM 4/6/98 -0400, Stanley Dunn wrote: >>Craig, I am about to become a CM of a pack of 110 boys. How do you >>personally enforce pack discipline? I'd love to hear your experience. >> >>Thanks, in advance, >> >>Stan Dunn >>ACM Pack 89, DL Den 8 >>Hillsborough, NJ > >I hope the list doesn't mind a general post on this subject, but here's how I have been able to keep control of our Pack meetings. I should say that I do not consider myself an expert at this, but some things have worked for me that I'd like to share. > >1. Program -- Have a good plan for the meeting and try to avoid "dead air." Dead air, I find, tends to occur if the advancements are not well organized ahead of time, or the announcements are not well thought out, or some other "oops." If dead air has to occur, have someone prepared to do a run-on or a song or something. Also, keep the meeting to a reasonable amount of time with plenty of fun activities. Our pack meetings are usually 6:30-8:00. If you need help with time short cuts, I can address that on another post. Most recommend no more than 1 hour meetings, but I have never been able to do that. Maybe it is me that needs the time short cuts! I could go on forever on the subject of program, but just make sure it is simple, fun, and well thought out. This is much easier said than done and you will get better with time. > >2. If possible, set the meeting room up so all kids face you. This can be tough with a big pack. We are lucky in that we have a very large hall that I can set all 12 dens in a horseshoe shape with the kids in the front row of each den (parents behind). Nearly all activities occur within that horseshoe. This way none of the kids (except siblings) are not in the front row and I can look each one in the eye. When someone is not keeping quiet, I can see them and gently remind them it is time to be quiet (I've seen other packs yell or embarrass kids this way, but I believe that is counterproductive). I also make a serious effort to know each child by name. That has become more and more difficult with the increased size of the pack, but I still try. They know me and I know them. That is very important to them and it also helps when things get crazy. > >3. Make sure the Den Leaders know that you expect their help with control at the pack meetings. This can be touchy and you have to be tactful (make sure you ask their help instead of blaming them for any past problems), but it is usually not hard for them to see your side. Most will take pride in their den's behavior anyhow. I should mention that the entire pack should sit with their dens with some identification (such as their den flag) and not be a large mob. This makes them feel a part of a more personal group. Sometimes parents object when they have more than one child, but I politely insist the boy stays with his den and the parents can rotate which den they sit with from month to month. > >4. Have a CONSISTENT quiet symbol. I have always used the classic scout sign, announcing it before hand by saying "Signs up!" I have waited for as long as five minutes (usually the first pack meeting of the year with all the new kids), but I do not continue until all are quiet -- INCLUDING THE PARENTS -- with their signs in the air. It can be tough at first, and sometimes individuals or entire dens need to be reminded, but it is important that they understand you will not continue until it is quiet. Believe it or not, it works. If you yell or lose control of yourself, the whole exercise will fail (yelling works once, maybe twice, but after that you lose their respect and you have to yell to get them to do anything -- not a fun pack meeting!). > >Our pack's song leader picked up a great idea that we have been using and it seems to work better. It is in the form of a fun activity. When things get noisy, she says "Sign goes up!" and the boys respond "Mouth goes shut!" and they remain quiet. If I hadn't seen it myself, I would never believe it would work. But it is quick and works well. > >This may go without saying, but once you have them quiet, you better have something to say or do. I have seen cubmasters spend much time quieting the room and then go back and fumble papers trying to figure out what to do next. Back to program! > >You are in for one of the most rewarding, but difficult, jobs you have ever undertaken. If you have an active committee, it won't be so bad. I don't, so life can be interesting (I am working on fixing that). Your job, you will find, is to listen well and smooth hard feelings. Some general advise: > >1. Be scoutings #1 cheerleader. Scout spirit is contageous. Be a spreader even when times get tough. > >2. Support your Den Leaders (should be #1)! 80% of the pack's program occurs in the dens. If the dens don't work, you don't have a pack, no matter how good your monthly shows are. Let them know you care, but resist jumping in and fixing their problems (especially in front of the boys). Provide materials, get advise, be reliable, and make them feel like they are evangelists (they are). Never look down on a Den Leader. You are a coordinator and a showman. You can make a difference in the boys' lives, but they WILL make a difference! > >3. Make sure you maintain a good relationship with your sponsor. Do a service project for them, be good about cleaning up after yourself (especially the bathrooms), and coordinate schedules in writing (so both of you will have something to refer to), etc. Make sure the sponsor has your name and phone number and encourage them to call if there are any problems. When they do (and they will), get the facts -- not opinions-- and politely thank them for their call while you investigate. Make them feel they are glad they called you, even if it is a simple misunderstanding. Sponsor problems are no fun and they usually do not occur over one event. It usually is a buildup of many events you didn't even know about! > >4. Of course there is the obvious stuff like make sure everyone is trained and you know your commissioner, etc. > >Sorry to ramble. I hope I've helped a little. You'll have a great time! Please e-mail me anytime if you have a question or need. I'm no expert, but sometimes I can help, even if it is only to listen (or read). > >Craig McGarrah >Cubmaster -- Pack 132, Palm Beach Gardens, FL >mcgarrah@mindspring.com