Re: New SM Handbook & the disAbled
(no name) ((no email))
Sat, 30 Jan 1999 03:00:06 -0600
Jay Thal noted a significant error in the new SM Handbook, which is
*why* the Handbook is in it's new format:
>Whether through oversight or ignorance it contains a major change
>in Scouting for the disAbled. (Hopefully, it wasn't intentional.)
>
>At the bottom of Page 130, it reads:
>
>"Scouts with permanent MENTAL DISABILITIES may request extended
>membership beyond the age of 18 in the Boy Scouts of America."
>(Emphasis added)
>
>This disregards the rest of the spectrum of persons with permanent
>disAbling conditions who were previously welcome beyond the age of
>18.
So noted. I've forwarded a copy of your posting, Jay, to the people
I know that were responsible for putting the new manual together.
Hopefully, it was a big oversight in the process of getting this
manual out to the field as quickly as possible. I haven't seen any
policy changes which supports the line above!
>PS: Since it is a looseleaf format (and overall quite handsome)
>the new Handbook missed the potential by having its pagination
>sequential overall, instead of by Chapter. We face pricy
>supplements and updates with page numbers like 130a, b, c,...
Nope; on the contrary, it will be now EASIER for BOTH National AND
your local Council to produce "inserts" for the new manuals. The
introduction of this manual is based on the successes of the
Explorer and Cub Scout Leader books, which were both produced in
this format. As changes to the program came into being, it's a LOT
EASIER to produce "updates" which can be distributed by local
Councils (and NOW, since the BSA has "caught a clue", perhaps even
through the BSA's WEB SITE!), printable and with a lot less overall
cost.
Councils will still be "stuck" with older versions of booklets and
materials, Jay, but now can receive "updates" to BSA manuals and
materials electronically as well as by fax...and can print those
out and make them available to Scouters within a couple of weeks
instead of months.
The only thing needed now is for the BSA to come out with a nice
binder for everything to go into; but *already* there's some
private firms (like ours) that are rising to that challenge!!
>Keep your old Handbook though, it has a lot of useful info left
>out of the "New, Improved version".
Yeah it does...but give the BSA some time, Jay, and TELL THEM what
you want to see back IN the Book...I think that the Editorial Board
did a really good job in putting together a BASIC book for
Scouters, which is what the Scoutmasters' Handbook is supposed to
be. I think personally, with the stuff out here on the Internet,
coupled with the BSA's materials and what we tell them we want,
that "binder handbook"'s going to be a real valuable hit as time
goes onward!
Settummanque!
(c) 1999 Mike Walton ("no such thing as strong coffee,...") blkeagle@mninter.net
http://www.mninter.net/~blkeagle Burnsville, MN 55306-7130 (612) 435-3068
privately at kyblkeagle@aol.com or waltonm@server.kaiserslautern.army.mil
---- FORWARD in service to youth ----
YOUR BINDER, in time for Scouting's new publication format, is at my website NOW!
