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Taking away Scout Handbooks & Help with BORs
Barry Runnels (barry_c_runnels@MMACMAIL.JCCBI.GOV)
Thu, 2 Apr 1998 09:47:18 -0600
>>>* The Scouts Boy Scout Handbook must be turned into the Advancement
>>>Chairman at least one week prior to the scheduled Board of Review.
>
>>Totally disagree with this one. The Advancement Chairman should have
>>all the records necessary and up to date. (i.e. Merit Badges, service
>>hours.) This is the BOY's record. He should never give it away. (see
>>the note below).
>
>One Troop I served in asked the Boys to turn in their handbook at each
>meeting, and the handbook was reconciled with Troop records, thus keeping
>the Scout's handbook and the Troop records up to date.... Two weeks seems
>a little excessive.
For me the Scout Handbook is a wonderful tool for teaching self-reliance,
self-discipline and self-confidence. I have a hard enough time getting
Scouts to bring their books much less teaching them to understanding why,
without me having to say "because I told you so!". When our ASMs, PLC and
Junior Leaders Instructors teach skills, I ask them to point out pertinent
pages of the subject they are teaching in the handbook so Scouts can refer
back to those pages later. It's a tool I want the Scout to refer to all the
time. So I would not want to hear a Scout say "the BOR has taken it for two
weeks". I would like to know how Troops keep good records without taking
away the books because this is presently a problem in our Troop. But take
away his main resource for Scouting? Take the ax from a fireman,the
calculator from an Engineer, the Bible from a preacher? Take away the law
books from a lawyer? Hmm, O.K. the lawyer may not be a good example.
>According to our SM "The Board of Review is to check on the character
>and morals of the scout, that the troop meets the needs of the boy, and
>help the scouts set goals." So the BOR should not pass the boys on
>advancement and write out specifics that must be met in xxx time before
>coming back to a BOR.
>
>
I believe the BOR is a check on the SM and his/her program. It's a QA check
and if used correctly, can help the SM work to improve parts of program. It
requires some character for the SM to except constructive criticism but we
all need to improve character. The SM should be the first to identify a
Scouts problem areas and then work with him to improve those areas. Isn't
that his job? Once the Scout has shown improvement, the SM is visually
proud to sign off the SM Conference blank in his handbook. One on one with
the Scouts so you can get to know the boys well enough to influence
positive changes in their life is why I became a SM. Why would a SM give up
the opportunity to guide youth to a better future and a chance to improve
his own life at the same time?
Serving others is the secret to a happy life. Scouting is a method to that
secret. I love this Scouting Stuff.
Barry Runnels
Troop 386
Terry Howerton Sakima Group, Inc. SCOUTER Magazine Kansas City |
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