A few years ago, I took some of my Webelos scouts (ages 10/11) to a Boy
Scout Jamboree at Vassar Meadows. During the evening campfire, I was
appalled and disgusted at the behavior of the older scouts, who seemed
to be trying to out-obnoxious every other scout, by shouting insults and
berating those scouts who performed skits.
This was not just rambunctious behavior, they were down-and-dirty. I
spoke to a few other adults, who rued the actions, but seemed to accept
this as inevitable. It was easy for me to decide we wanted no more part
of this organization.
Mob mentality may be partly responsible for those actions, as almost
every boy will be courteous when interacting with a polite adult. But
these young teens were in a feeding frenzy of noisy disruption. Did the
adults have no responsibility for setting some limits?
During the first years Kibbie Dome was open, many Greek groups seemed to
vie for the dubious honor of hanging the most repugnant sign (BSU or BSC,
it's still BS). I commend the current "wardens" of the dome for
maintaining reasonable limits on what may be posted.
While we must all learn to cope with a world which is not always
courteous, we will inevitably set our community standards by what we
choose to tolerate. Most adolescents need (and want) guidelines, but
they will continue to push the borders, to determine if yesterday's
standards still apply. What happens if no one enforces standards?
Bob Probasco
On Wed, 20 Dec 1995, Lori Sodorff wrote:
> I fell that it isn't so much that they [Moscow School Borard] want
> to do what is best for the children but rather how they can best be
> controlled. An article in the paper last week ( think it was last
> week) discussed crowd control at sports events. I think that
> understanding good sportsman ship is necessary, yet the
> rules(laws) that the student body as well as parents are being
> subjected to are not all neccessary. "Don't cheer when the other
> team makes a mistake." -- Please, what are we to do then? say 'oh,
> that's too bad let[s play that over?' And no face painting
> because the faculty won't be able to "IDENTIFY" the student.
>
> What is the public paying for? A place for children to learn
> and grow and be prepared for the 'REAL' world, or a prison that
> * wants to reform humanity/society into a race of DRONES?