Re: Uniforming Cubs
Sean Catherall (CatherallS@SLTRIB.COM)
Thu, 21 Mar 1996 10:19:56 -0600
At 06:17 AM 3/21/96 -0500, Susan Ganther wrote:
>When we do uniform inspections, I make it clear that the purpose of the
>inspection is to help them get their uniforms correct. (snip) Following the
>inspection I give all of the cubs who were in uniform
>baseball cards, with the Cubs with the most points from the inspection
>getting first pick.
>We had a problem at first, with one Cub who had the second best uniform
>breaking down in tears because he did not "win".
My philosophy with regard to uniform has been to set a standard and
recognize those individuals and groups who meet that standard, rather than
to reward individuals who do "better" at it. This is the philosophy of the
advancement method of scouting as well. I wonder about the message a scout
receives when he comes in third in the uniform competition on month, then
wins it the next month without changing anything on it, just because the
boys with "better" uniforms didn't show up. And how do you tell a scout
that his uniform is worn correctly, but someone else's is "more correct"?
To me, this is the problem with any individual competition: recognition is
based on boy-to-boy comparison, rather than boy-to-standard comparison. And
uniforming is clearly a standardization issue, rather than an achievement issue.
I agree with offering a uniform incentive and tying it to an inspection, but
I would discourage an individual competition based on points. Is it
possible to have a pass/fail standard, rewarding those who meet the standard
and not rewarding those who do not meet it? Even better, how about
rewarding points to a den or patrol for each scout who meets the standard
(on the pass/fail basis) and then rewarding the group with the highest score
or establishing different reward levels for pre-determined point totals (50%
score gets candy bars, 75% score gets baseball cards, 100% score gets..I
don't know..a yacht?!).
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"B.C." Sean Catherall
Terry Howerton Sakima Group, Inc. SCOUTER Magazine Kansas City |
