What do scouts call you?

[liscouter]

I have recently moved to another state. I transferred into a local pack and am continuing as a cub scout den leader. In the new pack all the scouts refer to the leaders as Mr. Bob or Miss Jane. This makes me uncomfortable. In the old Pack we were always Mr. Smith or Mrs. Jones. The leaders even used the formal address when we spoke to each other in the presence of the scouts. The reasoning was to teach the boys to be respectfull of Akela. I have instructed my den to call me Mrs. Jones but they slip up and call me Miss Jane. (It's been a long time since I was a Miss)
Should I just go along with the locals or should I stick to my original training?

[WB Bear]

Very good topic for discussion!

I wasn’t pleased when I started in Cub Scouting about the way adults were addressed; it was by their first name. I believe that adults should be called Mr. Mrs. Or Miss and their last name. My son was taught to call adults by Mr. and Mrs. It is a matter of respect that we need to impart to the boys. Upon moving into the Troop, there was a policy that the adults were called Mr. or Mrs. citing the Scout Law, that a Scout is Courteous.

I believe you will have to do whatever you are comfortable with. Personally sticking to your guns about being addressed as Mrs. would be my choice. After all Scouting is about shaping character and being courteous is so very important.

[Den5Pack457]

A few weeks ago, my Tiger Cub Son and I were driving in Omaha. All of a sudden, he started yelling: "There's Akela, there's Akela!!!" Apparently, after a few minutes of discussion, he thought he saw a woman than looked much like our Cubmaster.

Our Pack goes by first names, and first names and initial of the last names for multiple John's, Jacob's, etc. I have been in units (Venturing mostly); were we went by last names. But, even then some were affended when everyone is just a last name.

It is a good idea to ensure all know first names and last names, and to use proper titles. Perhaps an etiquette lesson for our cubs are in order. I'm suprised BSA doesn't address that somewhere... you know: "Character Counts." I'll take another dive into the Scouts and Leaders handbooks to see.

[1st Mate]

Actually I think it's pretty neat that a Tiger would understand that the Cubmaster is an Akela, and call them that.

As a Cub Scout I always called all adults MR., Mrs., or Miss, followed by their last names if I knew them. If I didn't know them I always called them sir or ma'am, a habit that has stayed with me now for many decades.

I have never heard anyone criticized for being too polite.

As a Cub Leader the youth called by Mr. Smith as did the other other adults when there were youth present, and I returned the same courtesy to them.

As a Boy Scout Leader the youth called me Mr. Smith.
In order to develop a closer working relationship with the Patrol Leaders Council, Junior leaders were able to call me by my first name, but on formal occassions used the more formal Mr. Smith.

As a Venturing Leader the Scouts call me Mr. Smith when in front of members of our Chartering Organization, but when sailing we use first names simply for efficiency of time.

[Nuts4Scouts]

Some of our Scouts call me Mrs Last Name, some call me Ms First Name. It all depends on what the tradition is within their family. I don't mind either way.

[Den5Pack457]

I checked, and there is nothing in the Tiger Cub Handbook, atleast, that talks about addressing adults. I do think we are teaching respect, so we should emulate it by ensuring we are addressed properly as leaders.

[Apache Bob]

I have been called many things over the years but those were by adults.
The boys in Cub Scouts, Boy Scouts, and Venturing have all called me Mr. Cochran. In one Troop however I was called Mr. C.
The leaders in the units have all called each other by their first names (or nicknames) while the boys use Mr., Mrs., or Miss. In my mind this is the way it is outside Scouting.
Boys use the formal name while your peers use the first name.

[ScoutmasterJerry]

There are many different ways you can look at this I suppose...
Respect, tradition, etc.
In our Pack and Troop we address everyone by first name.
Does this mean our Scouts respect us less or respect one another less? Does it demonstrate a lack of discipline?
Well.. No. If you know the 60 boys in the Pack you would know that it does not. Or the 26 boys in the Troop, absolutely not. Both units are thriving and well mannered.
I do not know if it is a local thing, but calling people by their first names is common around here. Rarely do you hear Mr. or Mrs. Jones or Mr. Smith.
I have been around many Troops and Packs in our Council and have yet to hear formal names.
I think for what ever reason it has more to do with a friendly atmosphere.
The Scouts know not to be disrespectful.
I work for a major corporation (UPS), and from the CEO to the newest hire we all are on a First name basis. The CEO of the company Mike Eskew came to our building a year or so ago, we all called him Mike.
I think real life needs to be introduced to Scouts.
We actually tried for a short period of time to use last names in my Troop. I got tired of last names being butchered or Scouts giving up and calling me MR S. I would rather have them call me Jerry.

Like I said, there are many ways to approach this and opinions on this one will be as wide spread as the country itself.

Happy Scouting!

[miscoutmom]

When I was a daycare teacher many moons ago... My toddlers couldn't say my last name. It always sounded like MssssHee-er. So I got used to them calling me MsssNenny.
So, fast forward to my son in Webelos. I was leader.. and so naturally I gravitated towards Miss Jenny. I would correct them if they forgot the Miss part, but I appreciated the respect that came from them addressing me that way.
In the Boy Scout level, as I was welcomed into the Troop with my 3 Webelos that followed me. The other boys started calling me Mrs. Heater... and my 3 formers <one calling me mom> still referred to me as Miss Jenny. Personally, both is fine and acceptable.

Jenny
Troop 744

[Liquid Sunshine]

I was raised to call my elders Mr. X or Mrs. Y so it did not seem unnatural when our son crossed over to a very traditional unit that also expected all the young men to address the adult leaders in the same manor. A former SM was also in charge of our Eagle candidates and many a project proposal and/or write-up were returned when a young man reffered to talking to John Smith rather than Mr. John Smith.

Having said all that ... there are many places within the US where the culture is to call and adult by Mr. Bob or Miss Pam. So ... I would stick to what makes you feel comfortable.

[Den5Pack457]

After discussing it with my adult partners, we will continue to use first names. But, we will have an etiquette lesson after Blue and Gold.

[WB Bear]

I didn’t address what I thought was appropriate in my previous response. I believe that the youth should show respect and courtesy by addressing adult as Mr., Mrs. or Miss and their last name. You can never be too polite. A Scout is Courteous! I believe it is part of character building and the value we are trying to instill our youth.

I also believe that individual family traditions shouldn’t override Scoutings values or do I believe what does occur in the adult world between adults is entirely different than the interaction between adults and youth.

I don’t see any hardship, it being too demanding or hampering any communication on a youth to refer to an adult as Mr., Mrs, or Miss.

These same things can greatly assist us in our character building efforts.

[Westergaard]

I have seen scouts call their leaders by first their first name, adding Mr, Miss, Mrs. or Ms. and then followed by their last name or followed by using their first name, and I have seen units use replacement names from the "Jungle Book."
It really depends upon how the leader feels and they alone determine whether they should be called by their first name or not.
I prefer Mr. _________. instead of being called by my first name.
I do agree with peers use first names and younger scouts and scouters use the proper title when addressing a particular leader.