BOR questions

I have been asked to sit in on a board of review for a 2nd class scout. THis will be for his 1st class rank. What kind of questions are to be asked during the BOR? There will be other in the BOR also, and I may not have to ask any questions, but I was just wondering what is appropriate.

Thanks for any guidance

Check out this BOR training from BSA -

http://www.scouting.org/boyscouts/supplemental/18-625/index.html

It gives you a very good overview of BOR's and even some sample questions.

Please remember - no re-testing.

When I was a committee member, I liked to ask questions like the following.

Why are you a Boy Scout?

What do you like best about Scouting? Least?

What do you like best about our troop? Least?

What can we do to make our troop better?

What do you think is the most important point of the Scout Law?

If you could add a 13th point, what would it be? Why?

What did you cook on your last campout?

How is your Patrol doing?

Are you having any troubles?

What was your good turn yesterday?

Why do you think people respect Eagle Scouts more than other folks?

I liked Trevorum's reply for younger guys. For the scout who is progressing to first class, I would do two things:

First, I would ask questions that challange the scout to consider the quality of his scout skills. At this point (first class), we consider him to have learned the outdoor skills he needs to survive on a camping trip. Can he build a fire in any terrain? How does he dress for extremes of heat and cold? What makes up a well rounded nutritious meal in the woods? Don't retest him, but ask how he would do in various situations, based on the knowledge he should have as a first class scout.

Second, I would ask him how he thinks he would do if given the tough jobs of patrol leader, SPL, Quartermaster, grub master, ect. The goal is to get him thinking of leadership. He should be told he is getting to the point that he will be called upon to serve in a position of responsibility. Ask: what is he good at? How well did the current leadership do? How could it be done better? How does one become a leader in your troop? What are the responsibilities of the SPL, PL, and so on. Is he ready to step up and be on the team. Can he teach skills to the younger guys? Challange him to "take up the mantle" so to speak.

First class is a rank that is pivital in the scouts time in the troop. He should be transisitioning from learner to teacher, from follower to leader.

Trev has the right idea...

Question... listen and nod... follow the lead of the more experienced BoR members.

We do ask to see the boy's Handbook and note all the signatures.

"Hi, Tom. This is Mr. Smith and Ms Jones and Mr. Brooke and I'm Mr. Moore. How are you tonite?.

Did it rain too much or too little on the Camporee last month?"

"You go to Kendall Middle School, right? How is it? " Yeah, my son Jake had trouble with Mr. Gresky's math class too."

Say, What was the hardest part of passing this rank? What did you learn new this time?..."

Never correct the boy's opinion,

correct items of fact if necessary, but let the boy tell you.

Learn from him.

You'll hear which boy needs encouragement, which will be a good SPL next year, which has 'relation' problems in his Patrol.

Pass on your insight to the SM.

Ask the boy to leave the room while you consider what you've heard. Talk alittle with your BoR collegues. Hopefully, you next ask the boy back in and "congratulations", shake his hand all around.

Howzat?

YiS

Remember also - you are not just reviewing the Scout, you are also reviewing the troop's program. You want that Scout comfortable enough that if you ask him what he thinks needs changing in the Troop he will give you an honest answer.

I like to use SSScout's approach to asking questions at a BOR. Make it seem like a chat. Here's some of my favorite questions.

When a boy is advancing from Tenderfoot to Second Class, I like to ask the following series of questions...

Now that you've learned about the use and care of an axe, saw and pocket knife, can you tell me if it's okay to run in camp while carrying an axe? Is it okay to run in camp carrying a saw? Is it okay to run in camp with an open pocketknife? What if you closed the pocketknife and put it in your pocket, is it now okay to run in camp?

Answer: It's never okay to run in camp.

It's a nice ice breaker for the boy.

In our troop, First Class is a requirement for our PLs. I usually ask questions about the PL position such as...

Who is your PL? What kind of challenges is he facing in your patrol? What can you do to help him? If you were the PL, what would you do the same, differenly?

For every rank I ask the boys what they would like to see the troop to start, stop, and continue doing? Depending on their answers, I might ask why it's important to continue an activity or why an activity should be stopped.

In addition to ensuring the requirements were completed, determining the quality of his experience, and encourage him to advance, I like to help him recognize that he has an important role in the troop by contributing to its success.(This message has been edited by MarkS)

I want to piggyback off Scoutnut's suggestion.

Our troop committee has a standing question for all BORs and that is what would the boy change about the troop / do differently / what could improve or be done better / other variations on the theme.

Invariably, the boys give the answers they think the committee wants to hear, which is that everything is great and could not possibly better (I suspect part of the reason is that the SM sits on all BORs and his presence probably discourages the boys from openly criticizing the program).

I know there's much our troop can do to improve, because I hear the boys complaining about things on campouts, during troop meetings, on rides back from events, etc. But with their advancement on the line, none want to risk pissing off the CC or SM, so they paint the rosiest picture one can imagine.

Of course, some of the adults can see through the charade, but no one wants to change anything.

Excuse me fgoodwin but did I read this correctly???

"I suspect part of the reason is that the SM sits on all BORs and his presence probably discourages the boys from openly criticizing the program"

Your Scoutmaster absolutely should NOT be sitting in on BoRs. BSA states so in his training and he should know better. The reason is exactly what you fear. The Scout should be in a position at a BoR to offer his true feelings on whatever topic is raised. With a SM sitting as an apparent judge (even if he doesn't say anything or offer any opinion) his presence alone is enough to intimidate ANY Scout. Your Advancement Chair also should know better than to allow the SM to sit in on a Board.

You should discuss this with the SM and with your AC and put an immediate stop to this practice. If you feel that you cannot for some reason approach either of these individuals then contact either your UC or your DE. They should be more than willing to assist you.

SMNJ

"Invariably, the boys give the answers they think the committee wants to hear ..."

Try asking in a different way that takes them off the hotseat. "We're hearing scuttlebutt that some of the guys aren't happy about xxx. Does the troop need to make a change or do you have any suggestions that might make those other guys happier?"

When most of us are on the hotseat, we tend to give the answers the questioner wants to hear. And I'm not sure there is anything wrong with that as long as the answer is honest. Asking questions at a BOR about scuttlebutt is out of line, though. Scuttlebutt is nothing more than rumor & innuendo & has no place at a BOR.

Ed Mori

1 Peter 4:10

Fred,

Gotta agree. Invite the Scoutmaster to exit, stage right. The BOR is not his arena. PERIOD.

as the original poster, thought I'd let you nice folks know what happened. We actually did a couple of reviews. I took your advice and let the boys talk. It was very interesting that when the boys were asked what they might like to see done differently in the troop, they both had the same answer. We will be visiting w/ the SM and see his thoughts. THanks again for the great advice. This actually leads me to something else. I've been asked to serve permantly on the committee. Should I be wearing a Scout Uniform at the meetings? I'm sure I'll find out answers at training, but thought I'd ask now.

If you wear a uniform to the troop meetings and ask the boys what the uniforms meas to them, you will be better received than if you never wear the uniform and then ask what the uniform means to them. Not that you can't, or that an adult has to wear an uniform to tak about it, it just seems a better way to approach the situation

I wouldn't mind to wear one at all. I just didn't know if a committee member is an "official" adult helper like the scout master and assistant scout master are.