Re: 1953 Handbook for PL
Allen Maddox (atmaddox@JUNO.COM)
Wed, 19 Nov 1997 08:27:09 -0800
>Also, this information hasn't just been moved to the Handbook and
>Field book; the Field book used to duplicate some of that info (in the
>late 70sm/ early 80sm) but now it concentrates on high adventure. In
>fact, most of it seems to have completely disappeared. For example,
>instructions on how to prepare an entire meal for a whole patrol so
>that the food groups are covered, things get done at the right time,
>and efficient use of dishes is made -- where could a scout today find
>these?
This could also be the result of eliminating the cooking merit badge as a
required.
>It seems to me that both the SM Handbook and the JLT Handbook were
>subject to tremendous "dumping down" in the last revision. Perhaps
>this was meant to make them more approachable in today sm post-literate
>culture with limited attention spans, but it makes them much less
>useful as references to draw from. In fact, last year as a SM I found
>I used my 80s Handbooks (esp the SM and PL) considerably more than I
>did the new ones.
When I first received the Scoutmaster's Handbook, I read it cover to
cover. I got some good preliminary information, but no back up or
explanations. They assume you know what your doing at the start up. So If
your like me, and start from scratch, you flounder for a year or two ,
until you know who to ask what questions too. Actually I've gotten most
of my information for this list.
>So what would it take to convince National to bring back a dedicated
>PL Handbook (and perhaps add in a dedicated SPL Handbook) similar to
>the one for Den Chiefs?
Start a petition. Put me on the list.
YiS
Allen Maddox SMT9
Honey Brook,PA Chester County Council, Horseshoe District
atmaddox@juno.com
Terry Howerton Sakima Group, Inc. SCOUTER Magazine Kansas City | 
