Re: "Instructor".... what exactly is it?
MAJ (")
Wed, 5 Mar 1997 23:29:25 +0000
Mike and Milt gave Stan some great ideas for additional leadership
positions, but in going back and trying to "catch up", neither answered his
question:
The position of Instructor is one of the OLDEST Troop positions in the
BSA. It shares with Scribe, Quartermaster, Bugler and Librarian the
"original supporting leadership positions" of the Boy Scout program.
In Scouting's earlier days, Instructor candidates went to a special course
to learn a specific skill or technique and then after receving a
certificate, went back to their units and taught the skills to other youth.
I don't know of a single Council that is doing this, which means that this
is something that some Wood Badger *hint hint* needs to consider
re-implementing as part of his or her "ticket". At home, I have a couple
of really nice certificates that used to be presented to new Instructors
before the present-day position
patch stuff.
At many summer camps, you had "instructors" that would present classes on
various Scouting skills...not "counsellors" but "teachers". Again, we have
moved away from that because we somehow could not get Scouts to come to
camp once a week for eight, six or four weeks for free to teach other
Scouts. A true shame, right??
The position in it's present form allows your unit to use experienced
Scouts (and Scouters, take a look in the BSA adult leader codes...I believe
that "Instructor" is still there, somewhere in the "70s") to teach various
Scouting skills to others within their unit. A Troop or Team can have more
than one Instructor, and the tenure is up to the adult leader involved. It is
an appointed position, which should be appointed like all other youth
positions by the Senior Patrol Leader with Scoutmaster input and consult.
The adult position, I'm not sure on....because there hasn't been a book that
talks about adult instructors other than Wood Badge, and those positions
are again appointed by the Course Senior Patrol Leader with Scoutmaster
input.
>So... how does one become an Insturctor... is it elected by the troop or
>appointed by the SM.
It is consided in the Troop Leader Handbook as an "appointed position"
so the SPL appoints with consent from the Scoutmaster.
>Is he a member of the PLC?
Could be. That's up to your Patrol Leaders' Council.
>Does each "specialize" such as one teaching knots while another might
>teach flag ceremonies?
Or teaching ceremonies period, or pioneering, or outdoors skills, or
aquatic skills (which would probably require the Scout to be Scout
Lifeguard BSA certified or the ARC (American Red Cross) equal. Or
working with patrol leaders like a Troop Guide except that this person
would work with existing Patrols while the Troop Guide works with the
New Scout Patrol(s). There's a lot of things that your Instructors can do.
Part of your Troop's process for "appointment" as an Instructor is to
participate in a "Train the Trainer" course or something like it in your
Council. Don't have one?? You might want to assign two of your Scouts to
work on a Scoutmaster-directed project to create one and then to train the
first Instructors. See how that works??
Hope that helps out!!
Settummanque!
(MAJ) Mike Walton ("no such thing as strong coffee,...") (502) 827-9201
(settummanque, the blackeagle) http://www.vhm.com/~uscardnl/
174 Chapelwood Dr., Henderson, KY 42420-5036 kyblkeagle@aol.com
blkeagle@dynasty.net or waltonm%po2.hq@taacom.army.mil
---FORWARD in service to youth ----
Terry Howerton Sakima Group, Inc. SCOUTER Magazine Kansas City | 
