Stephen's Dad wrote:I find this to be a failure of Scouting & parenting. This guy wants to take from Scouting only what interests HIM with no consideration for the BSA institution or the benefits his son might gain if Dad was only willing to put some effort into parenting.
Leadership should always be certain that Cub Scout families have a clear understanding on the purpose & methods & Twelve Core Values of Scouting long before a Pinewood Derby is thrust upon them.
http://www.scouting.org/nav/enter.jsp?s=cp
Have to agree SD.
I know I'm probably a little peculiar in this, but the workshops I hold are really more of a seminar than a workshop (i.e. presentation with no tools in use), and are really geared to the parents (boys are not included unless mom / dad can't come up with other child care arrangements, then they can bring the boys along but the boys are expected to occupy themselves and not disrupt the discussion). Most of the parents in our Pack have no problem with getting access to tools, but start out at point zero with respect to both the hows and whys of the PWD techniques as well as PWD purpose.
At the top of the workshop handout cover page I have the following quote from Don Murphy:
"I wanted to devise a wholesome, constructive activity that would foster a closer father-son relationship and promote craftsmanship and good sportsmanship through competition.“
I spend a few moments at the beginning on the "whole point", and tie in the above quote to the 10 purposes of Cub Scouting, which I list at the bottom of the workshop handout cover page:
Purposes of Cub Scouting
1. Character Development
2. Spiritual Goals
3. Good Citizenship
4. Sportsmanship & Fitness
5. Family Understanding
6. Respectful Relationships
7. Personal Advancement
8. Friendly Service
9. Fun & Adventure
10. Preparation for Boy Scouts
I then try to keep refering back to the purpose as various questions arise and at other appropriate points in the presentation.
I have to admit that early in my boys Scouting experience I somewhat resembled the "take only what interests HIM" dad you described above. Having hung around long enough and read through different Scouting leadership materials, I fairly quickly "smartened up" and realized there is a lot more Scouting offers and instills than just "activities". As Committee Chairman, PWD Chairman, etc. (you know how many hats the typical Scouter wears
), one of the objectives I have is to take every opportunity available to refer back to, and explain further, the Values and Purposes of Cub Scouting in order to help others avoid the shallow view of Scouting that I initially held.
Bubba
p.s. I do have an open offer to the parents to bring their boys over to our PWD playhouse, if needed, to use any tools for which they cannot obtain access. But, as mentioned above, access to tools doesn't seem to be a real issue for them.