Re: Woodbadge uniforming?

Jim wrote (asterisks added by me for emphasis):

>A woodbadge troop *like any other unit* sets its standards within the
>set of approved uniforms. so the short answer is "yes."

I guess my question then would be as follows: If Wood Badge is
to teach us leadership (specifically leadership of Scouts), and if
we ascribe to the theory that people will model what trainers do in
a course, then what message does it send when the boys (in this case
the course participant), are not listened to in such a decision? Is
that WB staff giving de-facto license to the participants to go and
do the same with the boys in their units?

I should say, since I am new here, that I am a big supporter of
Wood Badge training. I am a supporter because of the invaluable
lessons in Leadership that it gives. However, I am also opposed to
some of the shenanigans that go on in some courses. Wood Badge is
not boot camp, and I fear that some members of some staffs in some
places have that confused. The purpose is not to break the man (or
woman) down and rebuild them into Scouts (as is the purpose of
boot camp), it is to impart leadership skills in a SCOUTING
environment.

My wood badge staff was outstanding! They had standards of uniforming
for all of us, but those standards were flexible based on the needs
of the participants. As it turned out, we all wore the same thing
(in our case shorts in late April / early May until the staff finally
modelled putting on long pants on the cold evenings), and we did
so because we all thought it was important and we WANTED to, not
because we were compelled to by a capricious, unexplained rule. I can
think of few things that turn off a boy more than being told to do
it "because I say so."

Well, now that I have stood on the soap box, I'll conclude.

YIS



Bob Costello
Cubmaster - Pack 765 Charter Organization Rep. - Troop 775
Westland Michigan - Detroit Area Council
Certified Trainer - Huron Valley Girl Scout Council
Former District Training Chair for Cub Scouts
Staff member for Scoutmastership Fundamentals

I used to be a bobwhite....- C-4-96


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