A Scout(master) is Brave

The Scout LawThe tenth point of the Scout Law, A Scout is Brave, is often explained as

He has the courage to stand for what he thinks is right even if others laugh at him or threaten him.

We frequently have conversations with our Scouts about the Scout Law and advise them to live the values in the Oath and Law in their everyday lives as well as when within a Scouting context.

The same applies to Scouters, of course, but top leaders (including both the Scoutmaster and committee chair) should take this one to heart.

We often get tossed around by parents (and sometimes other leaders) who think they may know of ways to “improve” the Scouting program. Having orderly troop meetings is just one “suggestion” these well-meaning but often misinformed parents give us. Others involve meddling with youth responsibilities like skills instruction or camp cooking.

But we know better – or at least I hope we do.

Youth leadership is a messy thing to watch and is even harder to deal with when it’s your own son doing the messy thing. A good Scoutmaster knows, however, that this is part of the process of Scouting. And a good committee chair will back up the Scoutmaster because he or she knows it too.

Have the courage of your convictions to forge ahead, doing the Scouting program the Scouting way instead of what others would like to see. And use it as an opportunity to enlighten them about the why behind the how.

This post first appeared on Bobwhite Blather.
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One Reply to “A Scout(master) is Brave”

  1. I’ve been known to tell new parents or parents who have just crossed over from Webelos that Boy Scouts is very different from Cub Scouts and many other youth serving organizations. I explain this by having a open forum to talk about what is and isn’t Scouting.. The one thing I focus on though is that Scouting is boy run, adult advised. Adults such as the SM or ASM are advisors and mentors. Yes there are still decisions adults have to make but in reality those a few and far between.

    Scouting is complicated and takes years of training and hardwork to put together a solid program. Adults need to remember that leadership skills can only be learned through trial and error. Trail and error actions are EXTREMELY messy and at times it will look like chaos. Chaos is a necessary evil that makes the program work.

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