Boys Will Be Boys

'Boys will be boys' was (and still is) and observation made by adults when adolesent males sometimes acted up. It calls to my mine a verbal shrug of the shoulders; a sort of 'Oh well, what can we do?' Well we can do plenty. The subject of this post is behavior of boys in our age group (11-17) and how we can channel that in a useful, constructive way through Scouting.

First, we can separate morality from compliance. As adults charged with the health, education and welfare of our Scouts we need to understand the developmental difference of boys, even within a year of two of each other. An 11 year old behaves very differently from a 13 year old. The behavior of either age is not necessarily 'bad' or 'good'; the behavior of the boys is either within the expected, acceptable guidelines or it is not. It is our responsibility to teach and show by example the kind of behavior that is expected of them and the consequence of non-compliance. A disciplinary policy is a first step (and I encourage each parent to contribute to this effort) but more importantly is the modeling of expected behavior and mentoring of each age group. This is vitally important work.

Second, we need to give the boys options. Part of growing up is learning to make choices and understanding the consequences of those choices. For Scouts, in order to learn and grow, they need to know what is expected and what the results are likely to be. Then the Scout needs to be allowed to make a choice. Here is the most important part of this process; parents and adult leaders need to then be ready with quick, consistant enforcement for non-compliance with the safety of the boys always at the forefront. Conversely, we also need to be ready with quick, consistant praise for beahvior that is within guidelines. If we follow our guidlines (and a little parental common sense) we will find the soon the boys will begin to internalize the expected behaviors and will be better able to focus their engergies on Scouting tasks. The worst thing we can do is make a 'threat' then not follow through once our 'bluff' is called. Just as bad, would be to punish a boy for making an unsafe choice that we (as adults) could have predicted.

Third, we can not have a 'fear of failure'. As long as a Scout is safe and following behavioral guidelines, he needs to be allowed them to struggle or fail from time to time. This is key, failure at a task and poor behavior are not the same and should never be linked. Again our job as adults is to address the behavoir separate from the accomplishment of a task. If a behavior issue is immediately addressed within the established Troop guidelines then it becomes a non-issue and the planning and execution of a task (or lack thereof) can be addressed separately. The most difficult thing we will face as a parent or adult leader is to see a boy who is unprepared, struggle through a task. We must let that learning opportunity take place however. You will find that the next time such a situation arises, the Scout will be prepared.

Finally, we need to realize that as Lord Baden-Powell said, Scouting is a boy lead activity for the benefit and purposes of boys that is over seen by adults. The first Scouts formed their own groups then went looking for adult leaders. The Scouts need to be allowed to have fun and enjoy themselves. Sometimes that may seem to conflict with the behavioral guidelies that we establish but what we need to remember is that the social and physical activities that boys engage in have value. Our biggest task is to apply a little common sense and know when this behavior is OK or when is needs to be addressed. In these instances, 'boys will be boys' might not be a bad thing.

As we move forward, I would like to see a behavior guideline developed. I want the boys to know exactly what to expect before they arrive in the Troop. As Scout Master, I will be emphasisizing these guidelines and expect behavior for the first few meetings. The rest is up to you.

Yours In Scouting
John DeWitt, SM Troop 401