Re: totin'chip
Anthony J. Mako (ajmako@APK.NET)
Sun, 25 Jan 1998 12:01:08 -0500
On Sat, 24 Jan 1998 12:17:32 EST Ken4760 <Ken4760@AOL.COM> said:
>It was said that maybe people want them carried around to cut off a
>corner??????
>
>Why do we cut off a corner when they do something unsafe or wrong????
Here's the deal Ken: The four corners are a ploy. Even after you spend six
hours instructing your Scouts on proper use of woods tools, boys will be
boys. There will be the occasional "hey watch this" with a knife or ax. We
use the four corners as a probationary period.
For the last twenty years (as an adult and youth) my Totin' Chip policy has
been to be very observant with new Scouts and woods tools. After they earn
their Totin' Chip they may freely use any woods tool without immediate
supervision. If they are caught doing something unsafe I ask them to stop
what they are doing and think about what was wrong. They usually correct
their mistake and move on without losing a corner. If they are caught
"fooling around" with a woods tool I ask them to stop and think about what
they were doing wrong. If it is the first time I've caught them I give them
a warning. If I've caught them before they lose a corner. Most of my Scouts
know what "Remedial Totin' Chip" is like and would rather not deal with it.
The point is, there is nothing in the Boy Scout Handbook or on the Totin'
Chip card that says anything about losing a corner. The front of the card
implies that they could lose their Totin' Chip rights if they don't follow
the rules. The four corners is simply a tradition that has been around since
the beginning of Totin' Chip cards. It is a useful tradition though. In the
twenty years I have been instructing Totin' Chip I have removed only three
corners and one complete card. The stories behind these are too long to go
into right now, but I'll be glad to tell them to anyone with a warm fire and
hot coffee!
>They have 4 chances to do serious injury to themselves or others.
>Isn't immeidate correction necessary, possibly even losing and having to
>reearn the card on the first offense.
Actually, immediate correction should go hand in hand with losing a corner.
The Scout has to know what he did wrong, and I prefer letting them figure it
out on their own (with a little prodding from me). If their actions actually
_cause_ serious injury the card should be taken away (not just corners, the
whole card). I lost my first card playing Mumbly-peg; no corners, the whole
card. I went through a great deal of pain and suffering to get that card
back too.
YIS
Anthony J. Mako
Scoutmaster, Troop 381
"I used to be an Eagle (C-7-97), but I'll always be an Eagle (1981)."
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Terry Howerton Sakima Group, Inc. SCOUTER Magazine Kansas City | 
