Re: Boards of review
Alan Houser (troop24@EMF.NET)
Sun, 25 Jul 1999 15:53:44 -0700
David F. Delman" <Delman01@COMPUSERVE.COM> wrote:
>I thought about what I wrote below and kind of wonder if maybe I
>was a bit off. A few Scouts-Lrs I always enjoy reading and learning
>from like CA-Houser, a scouter in WA, and maybe CO-MarkA seem to
>always run some really good troops when these kind of issues come up.
>YES I also learn from all including MN-KY Mike&Jessi W, VA-MikeB,
>OH-PaulW, etc etc even crazy MA-NeilL(a 13yr Eagle 30+ yrs ago).
><In a Note on 7/21 I replied to our buddy CO-RikB>>
><Hi CO-Rik,
><I have seen, know about, and have read about many different types of BoRs.
><I am flexible on many different styles, except for a few. The differences
><depend mainly on the troop people, their talents, and their Program. Our
><BSA has some GREAT IDEALS in the literature YET I HAVE NOT FOUND ONE TROOP
><that conforms even here on this Scouts-L Super of Superbe Scouts lists.
><Yes it's not right that many troops don't conform yet that's the facts
><"jumping jack flash". <You might guess I like the song>>(:-}}))
>So Who's Troop really conforms to all that is in the books INCLUDING:
>furnishing the Boy when not passed or disgruntled
>-A Letter of Some Sort outlining what needs to be achieved
>-His Rights and Privileges to Appeal (OUCH!! OUCH!!)
>(The Above is TOUGH stuff, AND I LOVE IT with all my democratic spirit)
>(Must be our Great Bowman's profession or our Judge was at work.)
>(Come On MD-Steve, CO-Marsh, etc I am just having some Engineering Fun.)
You have placed me in some rarefied company, David. I hope I can
measure up to that standard.
But, OUCH!
You nailed me on that one. Actually, a Scout not passing a board of
review is fairly rare in my experience (twice in 5+ years), so we haven't
really been prepared for it (i.e., have not trained the parents who sit
on the BoRs). Another thing to remember for this fall.
Actually the first one came when I was a new Scoutmaster and hadn't
gotten the message yet about retesting (before I joined Scouts-L), and
the Scout suffered from performance anxiety -- stage fright -- he knew
his stuff, just couldn't call it up in front of an audience. And when
the board did the now verbotten retesting, he drew a blank. With some
more coaching, he passed his second board for First Class (and is now
looking at an Eagle Board this fall).
The second one was also my fault. The Scout had completed all of the
requirements for Tenderfoot through First Class, but the last
requirement completed was for Tenderfoot. So I gave him a SM conference
for all three ranks, and I didn't do a thorough job of it. He was a bit
weak on some of the skills and on his basic "Scouting-ness." For a bit
of background, he joined the troop at age 15 and enjoyed the trips
without buying into the Scouting for almost a year. Finally, he decided
that he wanted to go to Florida Sea Base with some of the older Scouts
and quickly finished up his requirements to make First Class. There was
a press of time, so I didn't spent the time I would normally spend
covering the equivalent of three SM conferences. Nevertheless, we had
him go before 2 different boards, one for Tenderfoot and Second Class,
and a second for First Class. He passed the first two, but the First
Class board felt he didn't quite have it for First Class. I have to
agree they made the right decision and I didn't when I signed off his
SM conference for First Class. About a month later, after we had
worked together on it, he went back to the Board and passed with flying
colors (and went to Sea Base, returning last week).
The moral for me: never do SM conferences in a hurry, and never for
more than two ranks (and I'm still thinking about whether that should
be one). The lessons for the troop committee: separate boards of review
for separate ranks are probably a good idea, and more training for the
folks who sit on the boards (actually that's a good idea for roundtable
this fall!).
YiS,
Alan R. Houser ** troop24@emf.net
** Scoutmaster, Troop 24, Berkeley, California **
** Committee Member, Crew 24, Berkeley, California **
** Boy Scout Roundtable Commissioner, Herms District **
** WWW page ** http://www.emf.net/~troop24/t24.html **
