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Showing content with the highest reputation on 01/15/19 in all areas

  1. Does this mean that "Leadership Development" is no longer one of the Methods?
    4 points
  2. Sad to learn that because it means National lost the understanding of the structure for developing moral and ethical decision makers. Leadership is but one of many actions that develops a scout's character and selflessness. Like the GSUSA, National is actually diminishing the importance of leadership actions by focusing it into an outward personality trait. The reality is that leadership method will have lost it's importance in the development of a scout because now the position of leadership will be a higher priority than the simple actions of the whole team. The result is adults will ma
    4 points
  3. I'm not sure if you're trying to make my point for me, or rebut. 🤣 Either way. My point is that there are much bigger and more powerful forces at play than just "The Improved Scouting Program Sucked." Which I believe it did hurt Scouting. I don't believe it was a decisive as some folks make it out to be. I could be wrong, and I am generalizing, but it's my understanding that the BSA is less successful in the inner cities as it is in the suburbs and rural areas of America. That's not to say there aren't strong pockets of Scouting in urban areas, or areas where there are significant non-w
    3 points
  4. This is the primary place where BSA training has failed. First off, training sets the standard for the whole of the program. I used to teach District leaders that if the units are consistently doing something wrong, training is likely the cause. If a district wants to change consistent unit performance, they must do it through training. Second, modern BSA training gives a lot of what to do, but not the why. The old handbooks and training syllabuses provided a great deal of instruction that included the why. That is why you will find the best scoutmasters today generally have read and
    2 points
  5. They're scouts. I doubt they'll smell sweet.
    2 points
  6. When our scouts earn their 1st class, they are eligible to sign off advancement if they take a couple of simple 5 minute training courses. One was writing a legible signature and date. Yes, that 5 minute course was a reaction. The other was a process for teaching. Basically it was: 1. Give your name, 2. Give the name of the skill you are teaching 3. Explain why and when to use the specific skill, and list the resource references. 4. Teach the skill until the student teaches it back to the teacher. I learned those 4 simple teaching guidelines at the old pre 21st Cent
    1 point
  7. Having listened to lots of people with troubles in their current troop stay miserable for far too long, people really should consider it more often and quickly.
    1 point
  8. We've already veered far away from SSScout's question of what we will call Scouts in Scouts BSA, so I don't feel too bad responding to one of the tentacles of this thread. The telling of the "why" is one of the key aspects in Working the Patrol Method: https://www.scoutleadership.com I found this book most insightful and have used it to makes illustrations and tell timely stories when encouraging others to lead with "the why". Also, there is Simon Sinek's book Start With Why: https://startwithwhy.com Isn't it funny that we have to be reminded to take this simple
    1 point
  9. It was after crossing over and their first meeting with the troop. At that time, there was no "earning" scout rank. Scout was a badge reflecting membership was setup correctly.
    1 point
  10. Rookiemom, parent hood does not come with an instruction manual, but you know what is what, obviously. Amen to MattR's recommendations. Also, I would approach the other parents and form a "Ad Hoc Committee to Address the Problem Cub's Problem." The Cubmaster/parent has problems that need defining, confronting, sympathy, and (MAYBE) understanding . You and your fellow Pack Parents, unfortunately, are not the ones to help with these. Your duty is to your Cubs. The CO, The COR need to take charge here, and YOU need to vote with your feet.... Good Scouting to you, in any eve
    1 point
  11. What is interesting is the Scout Handbook and Patrol Leaders HB, I think give a cursory of the "why", but little concrete "how" or "what". Unlike the older books which were more complete.
    1 point
  12. Technically, we now have the 4 Aims: Character, Citizenship, Personal Fitness, and Leadership. Leadership was added very recently.
    1 point
  13. I know it is moot, but would you please provide some links to your stats? I have combed BSA pubs and websites and all I can find are the non-member results. I do realize the surveys were manipulated. First, National announced the town halls right before jamboree, when most of the council key threes were going. Second they limited the time frame the surveys would be conducted, with 2 or 3 of the weeks to do them in being Jamboree weeks. Third National limited those who could take the survey to those who went to a town hall. I was one of about 15 people who could make the first
    1 point
  14. Other than the metal awards that slid onto the web belt making some older boys feel like they were still in cubs, the award requirements were well thought out for the most part and made some skills easier for many scouts, maybe because of the way they were presented. It is only an opinion, but I think it is not the SA itself that turns people off, but rather that it represented a very disappointing period of Scout here. Not only did they fool with much of the outdoor requirements, but they also changed Eagle around, more MB's, put a MB requirement in First Class, first aid and removed cookin
    1 point
  15. Actually, I would suggest that the skill award requirements could make some decent modern troop meetings. One of the best I still believe was the "city hike", either in the Hiking SA or possibly the Citizenship one. Have to look it up. If you did the hike as noted, you had a better grasp of your town or city.
    1 point
  16. My first troop was a beret troop ... we looked darn good, too!
    1 point
  17. Most likely there are a number of major factors that have caused and are still causing membership challenges. Obviously, the ill-conceived move away from the outdoor element of scouting was a factor in the seventies and eighties particularly. But, other likely reasons are wrapped up in the redirection of society related to the Vietnam era and the political issues going on, especially Civil Rights. Many elements of Civil Rights are still connected to some of the current issues. During the Vietnam era there began to be a pushback against uniformed groups that some saw mirroring the military
    1 point
  18. And that is in fact the real issue isn't it? The quoted statement starts with the statement the improvement and ends with in whatever form it works best. Many view the changes as an improvement and hope to see these changes as a better (re:improved) offering of Scouting. Other view the changes as not in fact an improvement and further movement away from Scouting roots and sadly see these changes as lesser offering of Scouting. Unfortunately all we have is anecdotal evidence, supposition, and guesses for either case to be made. Real challenge is that National BSA has been less t
    1 point
  19. Eagledad: "Shesh, ever since you joined this forum, your angry posts have the appearance of an immature 25 year old without any of life's experiences." Surely you have me confused with someone else. Not sure about since I joined the forum, since I have been on it from day one almost. I am sorry you apparently find me immature and strident, though that is not the general impression I believe I share or how most see me; granting that I do lose patience with some recurring complaints and loss of focus on the important real elements of the program. Thank you for enlightening
    1 point
  20. You wrote back upstream: “We helped them navigate the Eagle process and they all sat for their initial BORs in November or December. They spent Christmas break helping each other with their Eagle projects, which are all solid projects mind you. No weak sister projects in the bunch. five of them, including my son, will sit for their final Eagle Scout BOR next Tuesday night.” I believe John’s comment was referring to the “initial BOR” and “final Eagle Scout BOR.” There is no such thing. There is one BOR for each rank.
    1 point
  21. I agree with @gblotter. Telling boys about surveys in which they likely did not participate is useless ... especially when the surveys did not address the name of the organization that hopefully they will one day lead. I've experienced this first first hand with scouts and unit numbers as troops merged. Quick summary: the older scouts felt left behind when a vote went against using the number of the older troop. There was resentment. Then a year later, when the new CO wanted to charge rent, the CC decided to charter under the old CO and old #. So, the next round of crossovers kept that #.
    1 point
  22. Do we really need to revisit the topic of the highly manipulative surveys that were selectively distributed and strangely worded to ensure a pre-determined outcome? Please don't insult the intelligence of this forum by trying to assert that those bogus survey results were in any way a fair representation of support.
    1 point
  23. Thanks for the replies. I feel that the BSA is getting lax on many rules and policies and that means the honors are becoming less meaningful. I earned my Eagle in 1991 and worked hard. It seems now the BSA basically says sign it off and do not question. Have been an OA Brotherhood since 1990 and that meant something, as I was also on the dance team. Again, OA has seemed to lighten the requirements for this year. Not trying to be a Drill Sergeant but again these honors are becoming a dime a dozen. NOT every Scouts will earn/deserve Eagle nor will everyone earn/deserve to be an Arrowman.
    1 point
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