Re: BOR Help -- to retest?
Paul H. Brown (phbrown@CAPACCESS.ORG)
Mon, 11 Dec 1995 18:58:12 -0500
On Mon, 11 Dec 1995, Jim Miller Sr. wrote:
>
> While that is true in many cases, I have unfortunately run across many scout
> leaders who still think the purpose of scouting is to teach camping & outdoor
> skills, and fail to recognize the main mission of scouting as character and
> leadership development.
I was asked to be the SA in charge of our sponsor's take on the "New
Scout Patrol" a coupla years back. I figgered that it'd be no big deal.
Hey. I was an Eagle Scout. I 'membered scouting: a weekly meeting and
monthly camp outs. Teach 'em knots & stuff. No big deal.
Hah! Was I wrong. I got the leader literature and found that I was
'posed to have character, fitness and citizenship as my "aims." And,
some 8 methods to achieve those aims. Only one (well, if you count
advancement, maybe 2) of the methods had much to do with knot tying.
Seems that the knot tying, campouts, etc. were just things to keep the
scouts attention while they were _really_ learning how to get along with
each other, how to listen to each other, how to lead, and how to follow.
And, if I was doing _my_ job right, they'd be teaching each other the
stuff I'd planned to teach them, too.
Its not just another program for adults to tell kids what to do. Its
something more: its a game with a purpose. If it stays a game, then the
boys will stay. If it has a purpose, adult interest will remain high.
And, I learned that it takes a lot more of my attention to have the
scouts teach and lead each other, to plan and execute programs, than it
would if I just went ahead and did these things myself.
YMMV,
Paul H. Brown, UC, GW District, National Capital Area Council
phbrown@capaccess.org
Terry Howerton Sakima Group, Inc. SCOUTER Magazine Kansas City |
