perdidochas

I would love an official boony style hat. I can't for the life of me figure out why anybody would want knee socks, but I'm glad for you guys that they have them now.

I think your suggestion is the best. If the troop accepts him, let him be a visitor until 6 months after his 10th birthday (which is the earliest he can crossover). It's a shame that the DL was unscoutlike, and didn't try to make things better (instead of worse). Yes, ASD kids can be frustrating at times, but the DL was missing a chance to help both of them. If ASD boy knew the stuff, let him help the other kids. Win-win.

If you're really doing the patrol method, it shouldn't matter if adults are along or not. Adults should leave the boys alone unless something very stupidly dangerous is going on.

Ultimatum is the only way. Also, if you make an ultimatum, you'd better stick with it.

Well, I think most of us who participate on this forum (and in Scouting in general) are trying to reverse the trend, and produce good men out of boys.

Scouting isn't for every boy (or family). I don't take anything personally, in terms of kids quitting. They each have a different reason.

I've been lucky in terms of parents. Most have been supportive and help out when they can. I love your PWD story. That is sweet justice.

Beav, If the test is comprehensive enough, there is only one way to teach to "the test"--teach the subject to a level of complete understanding. The problem is that too many teachers think that teaching the answers to hundreds of questions is teaching to the test. It really isn't. It's lazy teaching. Properly speaking, teaching to the test is teaching towards a high level of knowledge on the subject.

SR540Beaver, Please point out where schools have actually lost funding due to NCLB? I haven't heard of a case yet. I have heard of school faculties being disbanded, and new ones recruited, but never an actual loss of funding. I think the unions are being labeled as the bogeyman in educational problems. The problem isn't the unions. The problem is the entrenched bureacracy.

If it's a good test, you should be teaching to the test. The problem is some people think that teaching to the test in your case would mean just teaching the 200 answers on the test. However, with a huge test bank, pretty much you have to teach all the relevant material. Interestingly, the ideal lesson planning for any course (under many models) would be to make the objectives first, then the test, and then create the lessons.

Our troop awards crossover scouts who have the Arrow of Light the Scout Badge at the first COH. All the Scout Badge requirements are part of the Ar row of Light or Webelos badge. Tenderfoot is a different matter.

trust me, you'd much rather have a computer processed advancement report from me than a handwritten one.

What is the PLC doing? Do they want to camp? Have you thought about stepping up to be a leader? Have you spoken with other parents?

I think that most households with active fathers present are not emasculating boys. The problem is that we have too many households with either no father present or with an inactive father present. Of the three hard-wires, I don't think we deny 1. Video games, as well as just normal child play even now, still encourage that part. Most boys are not playing videogames in which they tend gardens. They are being warriors of some type. I do think we tend to ignore and stunt #2 and #3. I also disagree that ritalin is used to stop aggression. I think we use it to make boys be able to sit still for way too long. Boys need movement for sanity. My oldest son enjoys middle school much more than elementary. Why? Well, partly because he knows that the longest he is going to have to sit still is 50 minutes. At that time, he can go to another class. In elementary he wasn't moving as much. (also, there is no need to give a boy a stick, boys naturally pick up sticks--it drives most women crazy. Most men aren't bothered, but it's because we are busy scoping out sticks for our own use).

ASM being the acting SM for the SM's son is for both reasons--SM being too easy or too hard on his own son. I know if I were signing off requirements, I'd be much harder on my own son, primarily due to not wanting the appearance of impropriety or unfairness.

Our troop has an ASM do the SM conference with the SM's son. Now, the SM does sign off on all blue cards, but as long as he's not the MBC, I don't see the problem with that. Our general rule is that parents can only sign off on their son's achievements, if done in a group setting with other boys (and none for MB).

When you look at scout camp vs. other summer programs, its still a bargain at $300 a head. When my oldest went to summer camp last year, we sent our youngest (a year younger) to a CSI summer day camp at a local university. It cost $250 a week, and we had to pack a lunch, as well as drive him to and fro every day.

The key is the 6 months after finishing fourth grade or after turning ten.

Tenbears, The Centennial Rank badges are for those who earned the rank in 2010. They aren't supposed to be for collecting. My oldest son was lucky--he earned AOL, Scout and Tenderfoot in 2010. My youngest almost as lucky--he earned Webelos in 2010.

Twocubdad: While I agree with you about the absurdity of kindergarden and grade school graduation, your analogy wasn't good. When I graduated high school, I knew I was starting college in the fall. When I graduated college, I knew I was starting grad school in the fall.....

Why is B&G the end of Cub Scouting? Baseball season.

I think you've got a pretty ambitious trip planned, as it is. I wouldn't add anything. Swimming with the manatees is great.

There is no rule saying that a Webelos has to crossover while in the 5th grade. Yes, it's highly recommended, but not required. Why don't you communicate to the parents directly about what troop they will crossover to? There is no rule that says that the whole den has to crossover into the same unit. Personally, as a second year Webelos leader, I can't wait until crossover. I'm looking forward to it, as soon I will only have one meeting to work rather than the two (A WDL and general technology specialist for the Pack, and the Advancement Coordinator for the Troop).

Eng, Have you been on any campouts with the Scouts to observe their lack of safety, etc.? I've been on campouts with my son. What I've seen has been pretty safe (combination of boy/adult led). I sleep well when he's on a campout without me. (it's when I'm with them, I don't sleep well. I love to camp, but don't usually sleep well in a tent).

OGE, Exactly. The whole "science vs. religion" is an artificial dichotomy. Some of us chose to study science because we admire the universe that God created.