To think this Beavers Leader was a bit OTT?

[DrSeuss]

I should start by saying that I'm a huge fan of the Scouts and Guides and was a leader in both at various times. I have defended them in threads before as I know how much time the leaders put in, unpaid.
Today was the local St George's Day parade. I spent time this morning stitching on DS's new Beaver badges, then ironing his uniform as I knew he had to look smart. He has just returned, clutching his Diamond Jubilee badge, which DH was told by the leader was cut from his clothes using a penknife as Her Maj is no longer being jubilant. So, essentially, she was so incensed by a seven year old wearing an incorrect badge that she made him stand in the High Street while she hacked it off. He, the uniform and the leader are all unscathed but seriously?

Blimey. I'm a Brownie Leader and didn't know badges were supposed to come off. I wouldn't ever insist on that - if the girls do the work they get the badges and can proudly display them for as long as they like.

I'm all for rules and making the girls abide by them, but that's just ridiculous. We deal with children who work hard and their efforts should be celebrated.

Cutting it off in the street with a penknife is the definition of OTT.

lurked T'is only ones like the Jubilee one, which are for a specific event and which aren't earnt. Technically only interest badges and proper badges should go on uniform and the 'fun' ones like the local ones people design and sell as fundraising should go on blankets or somewhere else.

But that would be mean and nitpicky so I never say it except in my head

Yes, lurked - it's not one the child has had to earn, it's a commemorative one that you can wear for a year. They have to come off as there's not room on their chests for the next one , but, as I said ^^ this wasn't the way to tell / remind parents.

I'm pretty sure all our scouts are still wearing theirs ...

Mind you, I don't think we have St George's Day parades any more for folk to notice

Shouldn't the dcs be sewing them on themselves? My mum never did mine.
That way they can get a sewing badge too .

I think it depends on 'how' the leader did it.

Was it done with a big smile and a 'come on DS, you should have that off, want me to show you how cool my penknife is' or was it a 'come here you scruffy oik, ruining the look of the parade you bad scout, I'm going to cut it off while holding you by the scruff off your neck'?

badge glue eh, Thanks EduCated I will investigate.

I don't see the big deal tbh, unless she actually took his shirt off in the middle of the road for it to be done.

She should have sent a note out to the parents telling them that they have to be removed though, it's only through a chance conversation I realised it was supposed to come off at the end of 2012.

I use badge glue, but having said that DS's beaver leader seems to be a tad laidback ( am sitting on hands but as it is a volunteer position I feel I cannot be overly critical) so he only has his joiner badge.

Leader completely OTT. DS would have been upset about that I think.

Our lot were told to remove them. Baloo is a curmudgeonly bloke but wouldn't resort to that sort of action.

The parade through town today way excellent, even with the detour around the fountain:o

And I'd say about a quarter of the children still had their jubilee badges on.

cutting it off in public puts me in mind of an army officer having his badges of rank ripped off in front of the regiment after a court-martial

(do they really do that?)