From: PMurray (pjm@WORLDRAMP.NET)
Date: Tue Jul 25 2000 - 20:31:11 CDT
Hey All,
Well, I have gotten some feedback on the "Troop Report Card" concept. Some
of it quite positive and some expressing mild exasperation with me at the
least. Let me clarify something. A troop report card should NEVER EVER try
to replace the communication that takes place in a Scout Master's Conference
or a BOR. But, notwithstanding, written and anonymous evaluations have their
place in Scouting, and they might even have a place in YOUR troop!!! If your
troop is really strong, then you have nothing to look forward to but glowing
reports. If you think your troop is great and the boys don't, then you might
have your feelings hurt a bit. If things aren't happening the way you want
them to, then this might be the way to figure out just what is wrong and get
things back on track. However, if you don't use an objective scorecard than
how can you ever know the score??? "Golllleeee, ain't that thar defensive
line awesome? Too bad that thar score shows us trailing 51 to zip!"
Bear with me here (unless you are some other Woodbadge creature, then owl
or fox with me...) SM conferences are NOT objective but subjective. Not only
will you "consider the source" if he vocalizes a concern, but the Scout in
question may have anxieties about criticizing anything in front of his SM.
Now I know there are some out there who think they could teach ol' Baden a
thing or two when it comes to boys, and consequently they don't need no
stinkin' "Troop Report Card". Well, that's their decision, and that's OK by
me (not that they need my "OK", mind you). There are also some who are just
plain uncomfortable with the idea for what ever reason, and I am fine with
that too. Then there are those that might see it as possibly a great tool to
enervate our programs with some new ideas and help to eradicate some bad
ones. I see this concept as exactly that! Done well, a troop report card
would be very objective in ascertaining how our boys actually see their
troop. Just think how graphic that could be in demonstrating to an SPL just
how his habits are affecting the troop? "Hey Jim-Bob, 74% of the troop
thinks you aren't prepared for the troop meetings". Just think about the
effective counseling that could happen when you have some empirical data to
back your observations. Or it could even be used to determine why a troop is
declining or growing? In fact, you already subject your troop to report
cards now. Camporees have ways of scoring how well a troop does, and your
Unit Commissioner does almost the same thing! Wouldn't it be nice to see
your progress (or lack thereof) before others take notice?
Do I think every troop should do this? No, but I hope that mine will, as
soon as I figure out the right questions. If it is not effective, will I
continue to use it? Of course not, but I will at least give this idea a try.
Can I figure out all the right questions to ask? Nope!!! That's why I again
am asking the list to continue to send me all of the questions they can
think of. Then I will combine the best, and post it to the list, where you
can either use it or hit that well worn "delete button".
Fla-Bob Pete
I used to be a Bobwhite... NECS-59
I used to be a Knot-Head... SSD-20
Boy Scout Roundtable Commissioner
Central Florida Council, Semoran Springs District
