should scout leaders teach the facts of life?

“I am putting together a proposal I want to submit the PR people at Fermilab here in Chicago. It's a program I want to propose where scouts come in and spend 1/2 of a day on the accelerator touring the facility, seeing the bison, etc. Then walk through and do all the requirements for the merit badge. The badge itself is actually very simple and all of the requirements could be met during this session.

It would be a "one stop shop" to earn the merit badge in 1/2 of a day.

Then I would have the Fermilab PR people call all the scoutmasters in the area and invite them to bring in the boys.

It would be great PR for Fermilab, a good use of time for their interns, and great for the scouts.

Like I said, I am still writing the proposal.
last edited: 10/11/05 1:38:52 PM”

“Funny how that changed over the years isn't it ChuckD?

Ok, the TT Scouter support thread is up. Let's do this.
http://www.thebackpacker.com/trailtalk/thread/40748,1.php
last edited: 10/11/05 1:43:04 PM”

“Sounds like a great idea.

The real go-getter leader in our troop has the Atomic Energy merit badge from when he was in in the 70's.
last edited: 10/11/05 1:50:10 PM”

““Yep, I've heard of it. There wasn't a chapter near me. Plus I wasn't too interested in frats when I was in college.

Values and College are hard things to reconcile for most folks. lol.”
humanpackmule
11:30:47 AM
10/11/05
ignore this user


****************************

Oh, my hubby & I were completely anti-Fraternity or Sorority in College. (i.e. the "Greek" system.)

Alpha Phi Omega is a SERVICE FRATERNITY...
Our motto:

Leadership, Friendship, Service...

Oh, and I didn't mean to say that our group was only full of ribald antics... although, any time you get a co-ed group together, there are bound to be many good times-- especially in college....

Because Alpha Phi Omega's mission is service-oriented, we were very active with the community and campus--did some work at homeless shelters, helped to clean up the community (picking up trash on the river), raised money for various charities, etc....

Our bylaws state that we can't have a "frat house", so most events would occur at one of our Brother's houses... :-)
last edited: 10/11/05 4:15:28 PM”

“Good on ya.

Values don't equal no fun stick in the mud either.”

“thanks so much for all the comments. humanpackmule i probably needed a different title to the thread. i really wasn't planning on teaching sex-ed. i was thinking along the lines like you of the ramifications on unprotected sex.
the daddy to be in the troop has not let anyone know about his situation as far as i know. his parents came to the scoutmaster and wife to fill them in. and they wanted the other leaders in the troop to know about the situation. the girl from the venture crew had dropped out so i didn't have to deal with that issue.
btw hpm whould you like to try and get our troops together? our unit in down in numbers because we are real top heavy with 10.11.12 graders. maybe meet half way? let me know and i will mention it to the leaders.”

“Yeah, we can work something out.”

“IMO - "the ramifications on uprotected sex" = sex-ed.

I'd be highly upset if you took it upon yourself to teach my kids that. Many parents in the scouts would. Maybe your area is different, in which case mentioning it to the parents would be as beneficial as mentioning it to the other leaders.”

“Took it upon myself?

Wrong assumption. We have parent buy-in on everything we do.

I would disagree with your equation but like I said earlier the definition is subjective. I guess you would have to be present and hear the discussion to make a real determination. And ya know what? If you were the kids parent you would be.”

“hpm - Lots of parents would agree with my assumption. If the parents are in on it like you hint, then great! That's what I said. We agree there. I'm just saying a lot of parents would not want you to have that discussion. A lot of parents not only agree with that equation, but wouldn't want that discussion.

I didn't assume anything. I was saying that "If you took it upon yourself" (to do that), then I would be highly upset. That's a fact, not an assumption. I am not saying you did take it upon yourself, and from what I read as I browsed this, you didn't take it upon yourself to do anything just yet other than scope out the situation. I'm not aware of you taking it upon yourself to teach them anything yet.

I'm wondering why you seem so defensive? Take a breath and chill out.

You may want to question yourself why you got so defensive about this. Maybe you're feeling unsure about this which would be an indication to slow down a bit and think it through more. Nothing wrong with that. But geesh! You asked for opinions and I am giving you a popular one. Maybe you disagree, fine, but remember there are different parenting styles and beliefs and from my experience the Boy Scouts hold to certain religious ideals which a lot of times would support what I've said here. Maybe not in your troop. Maybe not in your city. But you asked for other opinions and you got one. If you only want to hear what supports your beliefs then don't ask next time.
last edited: 10/12/05 7:05:19 AM”

“hpm - I just asked my liberal cube mate and my moderate cube mate, an older gentlemen with several kids. I asked them without any other information: Is teaching the ramifications on uprotected sex, sex-ed? They both said "yes". So yes, it's subjective like you said, but obviously you might be wise reconsider this teaching.”

“Sarge mates with other guys in his cube at work? WTF do you work?”

“LOL”

“Actually, I never asked for opinions, I was giving an opinion to Cyndeee. If you look again you will see it was she who asked the question.

Seem defensive?
Ummm...no. I simply posted that for clarity. The way it was worded appeared as if you had not read the thread and caught the repeated statements that I always get parent buy-in. Unfortunately there are no fonts for tone or inflection. If we were face to face you would know that I am not worked up nor defensive.”

“I talked to the Scoutmaster last night about this topic and he concurred with the earlier statement that this is simply a forbidden topic in the BSA. Frankly, I have enough on my hands dealing with the responsibility of this discussion with my own three kids and the consequences of my failure to do a good job. Taking on a troop of adolescent boys that I am not directly responsible for in this regard seems like it would be presumptuous of me and a really bad idea. I am simply not qualified to do this job and I think the BSA policy reflects this fact.”

“i'm leaving it up to the parents!!!!!! when we get together with the parents and leaders at our christmas party i may mention that there is a need in talking with there kids about this subject.”

“Good on ya.

Values don't equal no fun stick in the mud either.”
humanpackmule
6:37:24 PM
10/11/05
ignore this user


You are absolutely correct.

Lots of fun can be had, and good times shared by people no matter what their values are... Of course, the concept of what constitute "good times" may differ between the various groups... :-)”