TROOP TIME – Chapter 16 – Scoutmaster’s Discipline
I run a tight ship. I expect a lot from my scouts. They’re not just here to have fun and fool around. Part of my job is to see that they develop into well-rounded young men. If I put them through their paces and test their limits, I know they’ll end up as proper scouts. Cole and Marcus are two of my most promising boys. They’re polite, conscientious, and intelligent. I’m often accused of being a little tougher with the most talented boys, and there’s a degree of truth in that. But what I’m teaching these young men will set them up for life, and, if they want to be the best, then they gotta work extra hard… Discipline is a funny concept. Many argue that it’s only necessary when someone does something wrong, but I believe in preemptive discipline. You gotta keep the boys both on their toes and on the right path. One of my pet peeves is vanity. Some of my scouts spend longer doing their hair than they do learning survival skills, and Cole and Marcus are more concerned with their appearance in uniform than what it stands for.