Scouting, Volume 60, Number 1, January-February 1972 Page: 15
68, [20] p. : ill. ; 28 cm.View a full description of this periodical.
Extracted Text
The following text was automatically extracted from the image on this page using optical character recognition software:
NO SCOUT
IS A ZERO
' I ''HE tearful 13-year-old boy who
-*■ slouched in front of my desk at
juvenile court had been referred for
theft. According to the records he
came from a church-going family, was
successful in school and was a Scout.
As Mike described to me his unhap-
piness, it soon became apparent why
an otherwise good boy had gotten him-
self into this scrape. Troubled by over-
weight, clumsy at sports, he was usu-
ally left out, teased or ignored. He felt
worthless and friendless—a zero. And
so he had stolen two cases of beer to
gain acceptance from an older gang of
undesirables.
In my 10 years as juvenile probation
officer in Provo, Utah, I've met many
such Mikes who turn to unlawful be-
havior in a desperate attempt to be-
long and feel important. From the
ages of 12 to 16 when the pack in-
stinct in boys is at its strongest, being
in the good graces of the gang some-
times counts more than the combined
approbation of parents, teachers and
other assorted adults. Many boys, how-
ever, don't know how to carve their
niche in the group; they become
misfits.
Every Scout troop has one or two
such misfits — the slow learner, the
sissy, the show-off, the small boy, the
loner. And while few may resort to
law-breaking, nearly all are lonely, un-
happy.
The Scoutmaster, I am convinced,
is in a unique position to help these
boys get rid of the zero feeling. While
By VERNON FEHLBERG
teachers and parents usually know
who the outcast is, they often don't
know why, or they feel powerless to
find a remedy. The Scout leader, on
the other hand, participates infor-
mally with the boys, becoming one
with them. He will see the forlorn
hiker left behind on the trail. He will
hear one boy suggest amid howls of
approval, "Hey, let's not invite old
Murphy to the campout. Then maybe
he won't show!" And if the Scout-
master should ask, "Why does Murphy
bug you?" chances are he'll get a
straight answer.
Once a leader has identified the
boy and his problem, what can be
done to strengthen his ego and help
him find acceptance? Plenty! In serv-
ing as Scoutmaster and in discussing
the matter with other Scout leaders,
I've found several workable ap-
proaches.
Help a misfit come on strong in
front of the guys. One sure way to up
a boy's prestige is to exhibit one of
his skills. The leader usually will have
to spend some time alone with the boy
to uncover a strength or hobby. Then
a whole activity can be planned around
his abilities in order to give him cen-
ter stage.
For example, one leader—distressed
by his troop's treatment of an under-
sized, immature lad—found that the
boy, a zoologist in embryo, had been
preparing skins of small animals ^
15
Upcoming Pages
Here’s what’s next.
Search Inside
This issue can be searched. Note: Results may vary based on the legibility of text within the document.
Tools / Downloads
Get a copy of this page or view the extracted text.
Citing and Sharing
Basic information for referencing this web page. We also provide extended guidance on usage rights, references, copying or embedding.
Reference the current page of this Periodical.
Boy Scouts of America. Scouting, Volume 60, Number 1, January-February 1972, periodical, January 1972; New Brunswick, New Jersey. (https://texashistory.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metapth353658/m1/19/: accessed May 1, 2024), University of North Texas Libraries, The Portal to Texas History, https://texashistory.unt.edu; crediting Boy Scouts of America National Scouting Museum.