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Re: Curriculum for training Scout advancement testers
Bruce E. Cobern (bec@PIPELINE.COM)
Fri, 4 Dec 1998 09:58:17 -0500
> From: Steven G. Tyler <sgtyler@EROLS.COM>
> Date: Thursday, December 03, 1998 10:19 AM
>
> My troop has traditionally allowed Scouts of First Class and above to
> sign off rank advancement for other Scouts, up through First Class.
We
> are now discussing limiting such sign-offs to Scouts who have been
> "certified" as instructors.
This is exactly how Troop 1, Flushing handles advancement signoffs. We
have divided the TF-FC requirements into "areas" such as First Aid,
Nature, etc. We encourage all Scouts, FC or above, to qualify to sign
off in one or more of the areas.
We maintain a list, similar to a mb counselor list, of those certified
to sign off in each area.
For the most part, we have not turned over the process of certifying
the youth to the other youth, although they can be involved in the
process. For each subject area we have one adult who is designated as
the key contact point. It is that adult's role to determine whether
the Scout should be certified to sign off in that area. Usually this
involves sitting down with the Scout and having him demonstrate the
skills involved. It would further involve having that Scout teach
those skills to one or more other Scouts with the key adult observing.
If there are other youth that the adult is comfortable with their
ability to evaluate he might have the other qualified signer observe
the novice and then report back. Once the key adult is satisfied that
the Scout is qualified, he is added to the list of qualified signers.
Even after that, when we do advancement work on camping trips, etc.,
the adult will very often observe the instruction/testing that is going
on with regards to his particular subject area. Thus, the nature adult
will usually take the nature walk even though there are one or more
certified testers who are actually leading the walk and doing the
instructing, etc. Then, if the adult feels that the Scout needs some
brushing up he can take care of it.
We do not have any visible recognition for these Scouts. Their name
appears on a list which is posted on the bulletin board at meetings and
is available on hikes. It is also periodically distributed to the PLC.
Also, for those Scouts who do not fill the official leadership
capacities, the SM will very often use the teaching/testing of younger
Scouts as part of his "SM assigned leadership project." For example,
he will very often accept APL as such a SM assigned leadership project,
but it is done with the understanding between the SM and the APL that
certain things must enhance his performance as APL. Included is almost
always having the Scout qualify in one or more areas and then use those
skills to teach one or more Scouts the skills.
I think this is a wonderful way to establish some quality control,
improve the quality of the advancement instruction/testing, and use the
more advanced Scouts in your unit, without either giving them carte
blanche to sign off everything, or not letting them sign off anything.
I have always said that a troop will improve its performance when it
sets standards of performance and doesn't accept just "doing" but
requires doing "well," thus challenging the Scouts to perform. It that
is what they know is expected of them, then that is what they will do.
Good luck.
--
Bruce E. Cobern
mailto:bec@pipeline.com
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