Re: Scoutmaster Fundamentals
Mark Wilson (mwilson@POLARIS.ORL.MMC.COM)
Wed, 23 Oct 1996 13:01:34 EDT
Hank,
Forget about getting "chastised." Do what is best for your troop. That
is getting your adults trained. If you feel the local course isn't up to
snuff, then send them to another one. Don't fret over hurt feelings at
the district level. They aren't responsible to your boys for a smooth running
troop, you are. Jason also made a very good point in favor of training outside
your home district. It is a great way to gain a new perspective.
To answer your question directly, no, SMF can't (nor should it) be done
"in-house." The program is modeled after the operation of a troop. We call
it a training troop. That would be very difficult with only the leaders
in a single troop.
Now to the real problem... There seems to be some serious problems with your
District Training Committee.
1) All of us who serve as adult leaders in BSA must realize that we all
serve one year at a time. No one should get the idea that they are appointed
to a position for life.
2) Any District Training Chair who is not actively developing new trainers
is not doing their job. Developing new trainers includes giving them an
opportunity to use their new skills as trainers.
3) The problem with having the same staff doing the same thing is two-fold.
One, they tend to do just what they did last time, or less. Two, they tend
to resist incorporating the sylabus changes that come out from time to time.
Several years ago we started a process that almost guarantees a constant
influx of fresh blood and ideas in our SMF courses. We established a
progression within the training troop. A new SPL is elected from those
completing the current course. An ASPL is elected from the current staff
to assist the new SPL. After the next course, the SPL becomes the SM for the
following course, then on to Committee Chair for the training troop and
often the person in charge of Boy Scout training under the Training Chairman
(who serves as the CR for the training troop). We get new people and at
the same time maintain some consistancy. We also have some outstanding
courses.
Like Dave's district, we invite all 5th grade Webelos Leaders (and those
others who have completed Webelos Outdoor Training) to attend our SMF courses
so they are ready to transition with their boys.
Mark Wilson
SM Troop 565, Deltona FL.
Eagle, 1974 - I used to be an Antelope...
also at mwilson@sundial.net
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