Obedient - When the Rule Seems Dumb
| Category: | Scout Law |
|---|---|
| Notes: | Best for older Scouts. Good when Scouts are pushing back on a troop rule, or before a Patrol Leaders' Council where rules can be discussed. Safety rules are not up for debate in the moment. Pairs with rules-have-reasons. |
Let's be honest. Some rules seem pointless. You've probably run into one this week, at school, at home, or maybe even in this troop. And when a rule seems dumb, it's tempting to just ignore it, or complain about it to anyone who'll listen.
The Scout Law says a Scout is obedient. But obedient doesn't mean you can never question anything. It means you follow the rules, and if you think a rule is wrong, you work to change it the right way.
So what's the right way?
First, ask why. Respectfully. "Can you help me understand the reason for this rule?" Sometimes there's a good reason you didn't know about. A lot of rules that seem silly were written after something went wrong.
Second, keep following it while you work on it. You don't get to skip a rule just because you've decided it's dumb. If everybody did that, there wouldn't be any rules at all.
Third, take it to the right place. In this troop, that's the Patrol Leaders' Council. Bring your idea, explain your reasons, and suggest something better. That's how youth leadership works. The Scouts really can change how this troop runs.
There's one exception. Safety rules aren't up for debate in the moment. If a leader says to get out of the water, you get out first and ask questions later.
Following a rule you disagree with while you work to change it takes more maturity than ignoring it. That's what obedient really means.