Discipline and Accountability in Scouting

There is discipline and accountability in Scouting but Scoutmasters are not disciplinarians.

We are volunteers in the game of Scouting and our job is to mentor and train youth to lead themselves. When there is a question of accountability – a Scout who is not doing what he is expected to do – Scoutmasters can speak to them and encourage them to rise to the occasion. If they don’t it is not up to the Scoutmaster nor the troop to discipline or punish the Scout.

If it’s a behavioral problem he’s referred to his parents for discipline and punishment.

If a Scout is not performing his leadership duties his fellow Scouts will want to elect a new leader.

We don’t deal in negative reinforcement. We don’t hold the threat of punishment over Scouts, that’s not our job. We don’t withhold advancement to teach them a lesson. The Scout oath and law are our rules of conduct. We don’t deal in demerits and suspensions and probations.

Our only tools are positive reinforcement and constructive discipline. We can inspire, encourage, inform, exhort and support our Scouts. It’s the right tool for the job, and it works every time for any boy who wants to be a Scout.

” Discipline is not gained by punishing a child for a bad habit, but by substituting a better occupation, that will absorb his attention, and gradually lead him to forget and abandon the old one.” – Baden-Powell

“If a boy is given sufficient positive reinforcement for appropriate behavior, positive behavior will usually continue.” – Scoutmaster’s Handbook

One of the developmental tasks of childhood is to learn appropriate behavior.

Children are not born with an innate sense of propriety and they need guidance and direction. The example set by positive adult role models is a powerful tool for shaping behavior and a tool that is stressed in Scouting.