To expect children to move up through scout sections

[FromageFraisOff]

I run a scouting section*, I have children ready to move up to the next section in Oct. I gave the next section up leader 9 months notice. They said it'd be fine. But have now revoked that and are giving priority to their waitlist. Our group leader (who all section leaders report into) is backing this approach.

I had told these parents their children had a place on the basis the next section up leader had told me they did. So I now need to break the news. These children didn't get the chance to put their name down on other groups waiting lists so have now effectively missed out on places elsewhere. I am furious. I am thinking about leaving scouting or at least this group.

AIBU to think this is not on?

*I don't want to name the sections in case it's a bit outing.

Former Beaver leader here, always believed priority was given to current members of the scouting family over waiting lust. That is most odd! I’d query with your GSL.

Same. In fact most of our wait-list never get in because priority is to keep the kids we have and allow them to progress.

Thanks. GSL won't get involved. Is deferring to the next section up leader.

This is very odd. I have been in scouts and my children are now in scouts and priority is always given to children moving up.

our colony has priority at the groups cub pack - they are considerd on the waiting list as soon as they join so first dibs

Crazy! I would definitely escalate - priority is and should always be given to those already in the system!

I’ve been as our leader and my children have been in different packs. Across the district I’ve only ever heard of priority to existing pack members. It’s hard to join post beavers for this reason .

What is their reasoning? Once joining you are usually considered part of the wider pack. Not just the section you are in

That's crazy. Every scouting group I know gives priority for those moving up, surely that's the whole ethos of scouting. Once a Scout, always a Scout. Not giving them a place for moving up is like disowning a family member and adopting new kids!

I'd speak to your District Commissioner. Like the other posters, we prioritise existing members so if you don't get in to Beavers, you're very unlikely to get a place in Cubs. It's completely against my understanding of process to kick out children to take on newcomers.

I haven't heard of this before, we have, and always have, prioritised those already with us.

That's really stupid. Every beaver, cub and scout will only get a couple of years in the troop before they are ousted by the waiting list when they are due to move up to the next stage. And then those on the waiting list will get replaced by others on the waiting list when they are due to move up and you'll have no actual troop just temporary members. I would leave over it if they don't see sense.

If your GSL won't deal with this you need to speak to the District.

It's not on.

Agree with you and with everyone else.

100% the Group's policy should be to allow those already within a section to move to the next section before new people are admitted to the Group.
The GSL is in the wrong in not having this as a policy in the first place, or, at the very least, (if the GSL is very new?) consulting with a more experienced GSL as to what to do.

However, PLEASE don't leave Scouting, and please don't let these young people leave. Speak to your ADC (or the ADC of the next section directly) to try to resolve the places for the young people who need to move section, and then speak to your DC about the lack of sensible policy within the Group.

We always prioritise existing children in our section, it's crazy to prioritise a wait list and lose existing children. Definitely escalate!

That does sound very odd. Our sections are very integrated and we always move 4 beavers up to cubs, and 4 cubs upto Scouts each term (and accept 4 new beavers). We don't have a waiting list for cubs and scouts for this reason. Our Distrct is meant to manage the waiting list post Beavers, so at cubs and Scout age you just get whichever group has space.

That's definitely wrong. I'd escalate.

Priority always to those in scouting as they progress through awards

same here, priority is alway given to existing members, we give a rough estimate of how many will move in the year and each section if spaces available will take a few from the waiting list.
When my children did, rainbows, brownies etc same time as scouting, you had to apply for brownies as it wasn't an automatic move up and in both cases my dd's had to wait one or 2 terms before joing the next section.
as others have said speak to your DC, it should be constitant across the district.
are they doing this as they want some friends kids to join?

This is certainly not how most scout groups work. I don't believe it is the decision of the GSL only. This policy should be set and agreed by the whole executive. We have recently got our written policies in place and this was one of them. In ours priority is given to those moving up. If you are a section leader you have a right to take up a place on the executive committee, so if you are not on it I suggest you look into this. This is the kind of thing that should be discussed and agreed by the committee. I would raise it in the next meeting.

This is certainly not how most scout groups work. I don't believe it is the decision of the GSL only. This policy should be set and agreed by the whole executive. We have recently got our written policies in place and this was one of them. In ours priority is given to those moving up.

Agreed

If you are a section leader you have a right to take up a place on the executive committee

Not automatically. Historically, that depends on the make up of the Exec. and what the Scout Council for the Group agree at the AGM.

So if you are not on it I suggest you look into this

With all the Transformation changes, it definitely won't be the case that Section Leaders will have automatic places on the Trustee Board (which is what the Exec should have been called for a while now).

This is the kind of thing that should be discussed and agreed by the committee. I would raise it in the next meeting

I agree it is the Trustees that should have such policies in a well run Group.
Of course if a group hasn't run into any issues with waiting lists before, and they have had inexperienced Trustees, then it might never have 'come up'.

I’m shocked there isn’t a national strategy on this. In Canada for girl guides it’s VERY clear. I’d assume scouts was the same. I’d definitely take this higher. It seems so unfair.

I'm also a former Beaver leader and this should definitely be the case!

This.

You don't do the wait list before current members.

Raise hell. It's not right.

Peter district then.

Section leader needs boot up the arse. This one is a basic fail that ends up losing dedicated people of all ages from scouting.

I guarantee it will be for 'mates'...

Assuming your all the same group ie 1st summerbay then of course you prioritise the kids moving up. We plan kids moving up between the sections every year when all section leaders get together for twice yearly meetings.

Kids that have shown commitment (and parents for bringing them) in younger sections are much more likely to stick through cubs and more importantly scouts and explorers where you usually start loosing numbers in the teen years. You can also recruit helpers from parents easier as you have built a relationship