TROOP 365 CONDUCT AND DISCIPLINE GUIDE

Overview

Troop 365's expectation is that all scouts and adults conduct themselves in accordance with the Scout Oath and the Scout Law. If all scouts and scouters work toward this goal the need for discipline will be minimal.

Boys will be boys, and once in a while they become unruly. Depending on the circumstances, a certain amount of unruliness, or horseplay, is tolerated. We prefer for the boy leaders to exercise their leadership skills and work to regain control of these situations whenever possible. However, in situations concerning safety, or where boy leaders do not succeed in dealing with the situation effectively, adult leaders must, and will, promptly intervene. Extreme situations will be discussed with parents, and in some cases parents may be asked to attend troop meetings and outings with their sons. Extreme situations include not only physical harm, but emotional harm as well. Friendly joking and kidding is part of being a boy, and part of developing strong friendships.Taken to an extreme, however, in which a scout’s personal traits, family traits, or personal beliefs are ridiculed, it can result in hard feelings and flared tempers. Such humiliation and hazing of any kind violates the Scout Law and the Scout Oath, and will absolutely not be tolerated. Any Behaviors arising to the level of misconduct or violations of the Scout Oath or Scout Law will be dealt with in accordance with the discipline procedures outlined below. Scouts and their parents have a right to know what the consequences are if they violate the Oath and Law; likewise,Scouts who obey the Oath and the Law and the parents of those scouts have the right to expect the Troop to discipline those who violate them.

Discipline Procedures and Punishments

If poor conduct or unsafe behavior is seen or heard about, it should be reported to a Patrol Leader or Assistant Patrol Leader; if such behavior persists, the PL or APL should give a verbal warning to stop. If the problems continue, the PL or APL will contact the Senior Patrol Leader (SPL) orAssistant Senior Patrol Leader (ASPL) who will observe the situation. The SPL or ASPL will coach the scout and/or issue a verbal warning. The PL, APL, SPL, or ASPL should inform the Scoutmaster or Assistant Scoutmaster-in-charge of the situation, and must inform the SM or ASM-in-charge if the youth leader’s coaching and/or verbal warning have not corrected the situation. The SM or ASM-in-charge shall conduct a conference with the offending scout, andimpose any of the consequences outlined below after consulting with the AP, APL, SPL and/or ASPL.

Subsequent offenses by a scout may result in further levels of review in addition to those above by youth leaders, including a review by the Troop Adult Committee Chairperson, Scoutmaster, or and/or a review committee made up of the Committee Chairperson, Scoutmaster and 3 other Committee Members. 

Categories of Consequences

Specific examples of misconduct: 

Note: This list is not all-inclusive, it is provided as a guide of examples of behaviors and categories that may apply. 

1. Fighting (I, II, or III)

2. Foul language (“dirty talk”, swearing or cussing) (II)

3. Humiliating another scout that is likely to hurt his feelings (II, III)

4. Hazing, or requiring a scout to perform dangerous stunts; there are no such “initiation rituals” in scouting. Lord Baden Powell did not believe in them; your scoutmaster doesn't believe in them. (I, II)

5. Smoking or chewing tobacco, drinking alcohol, using illegal drugs, or abusing legal drugs or prescription medications. (II)

6. Any behavior that results in the intentional or reckless infliction of physical injury (1)

7. Any behavior that results in the intentional or reckless infliction of emotional injury (II)

8. Any behavior that results in intentional or reckless damage to personal property (II)

9. Inappropriate and unwanted touching (III)

10. Stealing property of others (II)

11. Showing disrespect to adult leaders or youth leaders (II)

I. Serious Violations that result in Personal Injury:

A violation that results in personal injury to a scout (category I above) will result in a discussion of the behavior with the offending scout, a review of the Scout Oath and Law, an apology to the victim(s), notification of the violation to the parent, and any of the following

1. A period of probation in which the scout is required to achieve the next rank within the period of probation, and/or requiring the completion of the rank requirements but delaying awarding the advancement until the next court of honor following the completion of the probation; requiring additional service project hours (up to 4 hours maximum per violation); requiring restitution to the scout and/or his family for out of pocket expenses related to the injury (uninsured medical expenses, property damage, etc); requiring a parent to attend the next 3 outings attended by the scout.

2. If the violation occurs during an outing, and the safety of other scouts cannot be reasonably assured for the remainder of the outing, suspension from the remainder of the outing and requiring the scout to go home, at the expense and arrangements of the scout’s parents.

3. Dismissal from the troop for conduct resulting in Serious Personal Injury (usually reserved for subsequent offenses, but may be imposed for first offense if injury is significant/ or scout’s attitude is less than remorseful).

Il. Serious Violations that do not result in Personal Injury:

A violation that is serious but does not result in personal injury to a scout (category II above) will result in a discussion of the behavior, a review of the Scout Oath and Law, an apology to the victim(s), notification of the violation to the parent, and any of the following

1. A period of probation in which the scout is required to achieve the next rank within the period of probation, and/or requiring the completion of the rank requirements but delaying awarding the advancement until the next court of honor following the completion of the probation; requiring additional service project hours (up to 4 hours maximum per violation); requiring restitution to the scout and/or his family for out of pocket expenses related to the injury (uninsured medical expenses, property damage, etc); requiring a parent to attend the next 3 outings attended by the scout.

2. If the violation occurs during an outing, and the scout does not appear amenable to accepting responsibility for his action and otherwise is less than remorseful for his conduct, suspension from the remainder of the outing and requiring the scout to go home, at the expense and arrangements of the scout’s parents.

3. Dismissal from the troop for subsequent offenses.

III. Less Serious Violations:

For less serious violations (category III above), the following consequences may be imposed as indicated:

1. A discussion of the behavior, a review of the Scout Oath and Law, and a warning that any further violation will result in further consequences (the “next step”), for a first offense.

2. Repeat of #1, plus “next step” of requiring additional service project hours (up to 4 maximum),for a second offense.

3. Repeat of #2, (including even more service hours), plus “next step” of requiring completion of certain advancements/merit badges directed toward more positive behavior, for a third offense.

4. Repeat of #3, (including even more service hours and advancements/merit badges), plus the requirement that a parent attend the next 3 outings attended by the scout, for a fourth offense.

5. Suspension from activities, for a fifth offense.

6. Dismissal from the troop, for a sixth offense.