BOR's and advancement
(EC92@AOL.COM)
Thu, 20 Aug 1998 10:50:59 -0400
>it is not within the jurisdiction of the BOR to deny a
>boy his right to advance.
>
Well, I won't be long and I will start and end here.
The BOR DOES have the ability to prevent advancment. If it feels the Scout is
not ready, whether because he can't remember when he did a requirement or
something else hints to them that perhaps the Scout is not prepared or did not
actually complete all the requirements.
As instructed at PTC Boy Scout Advancement training, if the BOR should decide
not to advance the boy, should call the boy back in to tell him face to face
why he did not advance, should contact the parents before the boy leaves the
meeting so they also understand, and still should follow it all up in writing
so there is no question why advancement was denied.
I've see it happen. The boy who claimed he completed his swim requirements
while on a "swim team" but who couldn't pass the swimmers test (didn't even
come close) or the boy who had his mom talk a MB counselor into handing over a
signed MB card without the work being completed and the boy was supposed to
complete it "with a teacher". How did the BOR know? The SM (me) informed them.
Why'd the boy get past me? Yes, he could pass scout spirit and the other
requirements, but the SM shouldn't have to take all the advancement decisions
on his shoulders, especially when a committee of at least 3 impartial adults
can tell the boy independently.
Advancement decisions come from BOR's assigned by the Advancement Chair or, in
the AC's abscence, the CC. It keeps the SM from becoming the "bad guy".
Trust me, if a boy feels he "got away" with passing sosmething, he tells the
others. And SM conferences get that information to me whether the kids know
they tell me or not.
And I pass it to the BOR to do their part.
Tom Petrik
Terry Howerton Sakima Group, Inc. SCOUTER Magazine Kansas City |
