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Everything posted by Beavah
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LOL. Yah, well, it seems like da lad has things well in hand, eh? I'd follow his lead. Sometimes we forget that da things that cause the most growth in kids aren't the smooth, well-run things, eh? They're the times when the lads face adversity and challenge and have to improvise. Just like the way the "epic" bad weather campout makes for da best stories (and bonding), workin' through hard discussions or a rebellion or two also makes for good stories and good learnin'. Yeh trained him, eh? Trust him and let him lead! Beavah
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Scoutmaster denies 17 year old Life Scout Eagle
Beavah replied to SSF's topic in Advancement Resources
Yah, @@Krampus, I think we all have to decide at some point whether it's really important to beat our chests about bein' right on some point or another, eh? That's da "ego flu" Eagledad is talkin' about. Lots of times other folks are completely WRONG, and the best choice is to be supportive of them, eh? Because pickin' fights is wrong too. One of da interestin' things about airplane accidents that has been proven over the years is that by and large, pilots tend to blame the pilots for accidents and air traffic controllers tend to blame air traffic controllers. Rarely is anything that simple, but each group naturally sees da errors of their fellows more clearly than they see the whole picture. No different for scouters, eh? We tend to see what we perceive as da errors of fellow scouters more clearly than the whole picture. So yah, sure, I agree with yeh that da Scouters could have communicated better, and been less adversarial, and structured their decision differently so as to color within the lines. You're absolutely right. I just also think that da word of teenagers about what communication actually happened isn't always what it seems, and the lad and his parent could have been less adversarial too, eh? Throwin' a snit over goin' campin' a few times is, after all, throwin' a snit over goin' campin' a few times. Da thing of it is, the Scoutmaster isn't here, eh? So there's no way we can offer him advice, or try to calm him down and see a bigger picture. Da only person we have to talk to is the parent. So I just reckon we should give the best advice to the parent we can, and keep our opinions of da SM for another day. A parent havin' to pull kids out of Scoutin' over somethin' as trivial as goin' campin' a few times, especially when the kids have a long history with da program and friends in da program I think is a tragedy that could have been easily avoided. Makin' the lad go camping would have caused him to pout and grumble for a week, but then he would have gotten over it, eh? He'd likely have maintained his connection with Scoutin', his younger brother would keep his friendships and adventures, da adult relationships within da troop would have stayed positive, the lad would have celebrated an ECOH with pride. I just reckon that would have been a better outcome, eh? Even if da Scoutmaster is WRONG. Beavah -
Scoutmaster denies 17 year old Life Scout Eagle
Beavah replied to SSF's topic in Advancement Resources
Yah, no intention to be snarky, eh? Just offerin' a different perspective that yeh can feel free to reject. In terms of what happens to our kids, it doesn't matter who is responsible for burnin' bridges, eh? All da kids feel is the burnt bridge. Adults that are important in their lives are squabblin' and they're caught in the middle. Such squabbles always take two to tango, or one to strike da match and another to pour on the fuel. Da saddest cases are my colleagues who deal with divorce law, eh? But it applies to everywhere else we choose to get litigious about kids' lives. I think da question you have to ask yourself is why in the world you would trust adults who you feel are egregiously mean-spirited to take your younger son out into the woods, eh? I'm also not sure why those adults would ever agree to be responsible for your younger son when they don't have your support. That would be da height of foolishness for them. So this is a foregone conclusion, eh? A decision not to support da SM and da rest of the troop leadership is a decision to leave the troop. Beavah -
Yah, hmmm... Nuthin' worse for units than adult conflicts, eh? I'd encourage yeh to reflect a bit on how you may be contributin' to the conflict. You're writin' a lot about "the naysayer", eh? If yeh adopt an attitude of conflict yourself, the boys and others will buy into it. Tryin' to work with folks, even naysayers, is da better lesson. In a troop, the adults all have to be pullin' together or they'll surely pull the kids apart. Where's the SM in all this? Often the SM is da fellow with da Vision for the troop, eh? The one who sets the tone. Maybe I'm talkin' through my hat, but it seems to me that fixin' things in production and fixin' things at the end aren't incompatible, eh? The reason we have SMCs and BORs is to provide feedback to program folks so that they can do a better job with production... and so that kids get feedback on where they can or need to do a better job themselves. The two work together. Beavah
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If you define "negotiate" as reaching a non-binding agreement, no reason why you can't try having Scouts negotiate for lodging and campsites. It would be a good experience so long as they don,t get too bummed out if the adult on the other side changes his/her mind. Yah, I know several units where da Scouts handle all da reservations and negotiations. It's well within da abilities of high schoolers or loquacious middle schoolers. They make a deposit with da troop debit card or a scouter's card or by havin' da treasurer send a check. Never had an outfitter or other adult change their mind. Most of the time they're surprised and impressed they were dealin' with a youth. Under our structure, adults have the nondeligible duty to do their best to make Scouting a safe place for Scouts. Scouts can act as "force multiplier," and their good judgement and self-discipline makes the adults' job easier, but adults leading on safety issues is not supposed to be optional. Safety is an adult function. Yah, ultimately. I think our goal is to help kids have da judgment and skills to be safe on their own, though... even outside of Scoutin'. If we have scouts drown at some school event or out playin' on their own because we never taught 'em how to be safe on their own, that's on us, eh? We're supposed to be helpin' 'em Be Prepared for life. Da only way to help 'em Be Prepared for life is to let 'em take charge and practice while we're still in the background. So I'd say safety is like everything else, eh? It's somethin' that we adults handle sometimes, but it's somethin' that we should be shifting to the boys as they become capable. There's no reason why a group of swim team highschoolers can't run Safe Swim Defense, eh? They're probably stronger swimmers and better lifeguards than the adults. There's no reason why a PL shouldn't do a safety plan and manage safety for his patrol's outing, or why an Eagle candidate shouldn't be fully thinkin' through and providin' for safety on his project. Train 'em, trust 'em, let 'em lead. Beavah
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I wonder how long it will take BSA to ban kickball?
Beavah replied to Stosh's topic in Open Discussion - Program
Yah, it is! What I can't seem to convince the Powers that Be is that this is a bad thing, eh? They seem to have settled on a meme of "These things are not part of da BSA Scouting Program", and they keep addin' things to da lists. What they don't seem to get is that the more things we define as not part of the program the more folks will turn to alternatives and alternative programs, eh? If yeh keep definin' da BSA program as smaller and smaller, yeh keep gettin' a BSA that's smaller and smaller. Plus, along the way yeh teach people not to respect the "rules". Personally, I think Unauthorized Activities should be decided only by vote at the BSA Annual Meeting. It's the general membership that should define the limits of the BSA Scoutin' program, not executives or obscure and un-elected committees. Beavah -
Yah, different cultures, eh? Scoutin' internationally tends to be entirely volunteer driven (very few professionals) and very youth run. Since Scoutin' is usually done in Groups (one troop for ages 5-26), yeh see a lot more Scouts runnin' programs for mini-Scouts (Cubs), Venturers leadin' activities for Scouts, Rovers servin' as primary adult leaders for younger program groups, etc. There may be an older 30- or 40- somethin' who is Group Leader coordinatin' the young adult volunteers and interfacin' with da parents, but it's not really a youth contact position. All da rest of the Old Farts serve in very background roles for a bit of wisdom or finance help here and there. Never do as an Old Adult what a Younger Person can do, eh? Scoutin' in da rest of the world feels more like a youth Movement, and less like a Corporate-run adult program. Different cultures, eh? Beavah
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Scoutmaster denies 17 year old Life Scout Eagle
Beavah replied to SSF's topic in Advancement Resources
Yah, this was predictable, eh? Litigation is an adversarial approach. When yeh come in to a meetin' with that attitude, you've set yourself on a course to create adversity. When you've chosen to create adversity with da Key 3 of the troop, I wouldn't really expect yeh to get anywhere with da troop. They represent the opinion of the majority of the parents and probably the chartered partner, and their role is to stand up for those folks and what they feel is right. They're the folks runnin' the program, and they'll continue to do what they feel is best for all the boys. That shouldn't surprise anybody. People spend their volunteer time how they want, eh? Yeh can't force 'em to do what you want. Even if yeh are "right". So go and do what yeh feel is best for your boys. Find a new troop for 'em for sure, as you've burned your bridges and all da ferry boats with your current troop. Pursue Eagle Under Disputed Circumstances; you'll almost certainly prevail - if not at council, then at National. Da BSA just wants these sorts of disputes to go away the easiest way possible. Host your own Court of Honor and make it da grand show I'm sure yeh want for a deservin' lad. Maybe your son can add to his college essays how he litigated his Eagle award to avoid goin' campin' a few more times. It's a tale that's sure to impress. Beavah -
Yah, what @@Eagledad said, eh? Workin' with lots of troops, yeh quickly give up da notion that there's One Right Way. Either that or yeh become a commissioner who's just an annoyin' pain in da kiester to all and sundry. Scoutin' is all about people. Young people, old people, ordinary folks. It's a game of patience and gentle nudges and gradual progress toward (hopefully) shared goals. Adults are learnin' as much or more than the boys along the trail, eh? Bein' a friend to da unit doesn't mean readin' to 'em from da Holy Guidebooks, it means listenin' to 'em and helpin' 'em find some approach that they can grok and buy into that gets 'em down the trail aways. I think you're bein' thoughtful and doin' fine, @@Eagle94-A1. If I were to make any suggestion to tweak da current approach, I'd say 2 adult ASMs per patrol is a bit of overkill. It also makes for da possibility of conflict if the adults don't yet share a vision. Sometimes, the right spot for an ASM is to be in charge of somethin' really important but out of the way. Beavah
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A smart state should do one of two things, eh? Provide an excellent set of colleges and universities that attract kids from other states, and (if necessary) provide free or reduced tuition to strong students from other states. That way yeh steal their best kids, eh? Kids often stay in da states and communities where they went to school. That's why "university corridors" and such are economic engines, in part, and why property values in university towns rebounded lots faster than da rest of da country. Beavah
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Yah, I'd say Venturing Crew if yeh have a good one around. That can be a big "if". I'd also encourage him to be a full-fledged ASM, eh? It's true in da U.S. that our habit has become to treat middle schoolers like they're 3rd graders and high schoolers like they're 6th graders and young adults like they're in 8th grade. In much of da rest of the world, day-to-day Scoutin' is run by the Rover-aged folks (under 26), with a few 30-somethings around as group leaders. Havin' an over-40 person in a youth contact role is kinda creepy. Still, I've seen lots of troops that use 18-year-old ASMs as full ASMs without problems. In fact, by and large they're better than da average parent ASM. They're more fit and more adventurous. They listen better to the lads. They've spent da last 7+ years being "trained" and practicin, rather than just doin' a weekend IOLS. Treat 'em like real ASMs and they'll quickly become your best and most reliable ASMs. Only caveat I'd have is that an 18-year-old high school senior can't be an "adult leader" to a 17-year-old high school classmate. That's just silly. It's best to let 18-year-olds continue as youth members while they're still in high school, I reckon. Or, in this case, to assign da young ASM to doin' work mostly with younger kids and not with kids who are his "peers" in high school. Havin' high school graduation as da move-to-adult is also a lot easier for parents to grok, eh? It's part of our culture that after that they're off to college on their own, or work, or the military. That's when we really start treatin' 'em as adults. Beavah
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Nah, it isn't. In a pure capitalist model, only da families with capital get to send their kids to get an education. People only funding state schools is da old Soviet communist model. Yeh get only one choice, eh? Da choice da government provides. Kids are different, eh? They aren't one-size-fits-all. As a taxpayer, I want kids to have as much opportunity as possible, and I want 'em to have choice. I reckon it's a better use of my tax dollars if I send Joe the Budding Engineer off to Purdue than to Backwater State. More likely to grow the economy and make da nation stronger. Meanwhile, it's probably a waste to send Lazy Rich Kid off to Harvard when his spot at Harvard could go to Go Getter City Kid. College access should be by merit not by family capital... if we want what's best for da country in the long run. Remember, Jesus was the ultimate Christian but even he said it was better to teach a man to fish (hard work fulfillment) than simply giving him one (charity). Nah, he didn't. Not once. He said feed the hungry, give drink to the thirsty, care for the sick, etc. Whatsoever yeh do for the folks most in need, that you do to Him. Personally, I pay taxes because that's my duty as a citizen, eh? Not because I expect to get anythin' back from "the system". Not sure why I'd expect much back from a Ponzi scheme like Social Security, and Medicare is just another charitable wealth transfer to us old folks who consume way more than our "fair share" of medical resources. Well, not "us" I guess, because I'm still not on da receivin' end. I like workin' too much. I don't expect I'll ever need da police or firefighters, but those are like insurance too, eh? Payin' for insurance is just bein' responsible. I remember when I was helpin' out down in New Orleans after Katrina, eh? Yeh had a bunch of us from ARC who were out in towns literally triaging people as they dropped. Meanwhile, there were about a thousand emergency workers who were tied up behind fences in FEMA camps not allowed to go out and help because of various bureaucratic restrictions like not havin' Louisiana licenses or certifications. I even helped a few jump da fence . So I get what you're sayin' about poorly run government programs and poor accountability. Keep in mind, those laws that hampered those workers were laws We the People passed, eh? And da leaders at FEMA were political appointees put there by da folks we elected. Nobody to blame but ourselves and who we elected to represent us. Beavah
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Yah, what @@Krampus said, eh! That's exactly right. As yeh go in to havin' the boys set up patrols of their own, yeh do need to give 'em some structure to work with. Some thoughts (hopefully others will add ideas): Patrols should be "permanent", eh? Patrol Method works best when it's Once a Beaver, Always a Beaver! Patrols should not "collapse" on outings, so make each patrol big enough that it won't be down to 1-2 guys on any outing. That keeps yeh away from "combining" patrols or other silliness. Keep 'em to four so they can hike independently. No patrols bigger than X. I'd say 10 - 12 or so, dependin' on the first point which is more important. If yeh get to higher attendance rates, then yeh can use smaller patrols. Eight is usually too small if yeh have 50% attendance on average. Patrols should be self-sufficient on outings, so that means yeh have to have some experienced or at least go-getter scouts in each. Maybe PLs need to be 1st Class or above? Yeh don't want to tempt adults into feelin' they need to "help". Nobody should be "picked last" or made to feel unwanted. The best youth leaders take the hardest personnel challenges... and the lads should know that . If yeh have some dietary restrictions kids (like nut allergies), sometimes it can help to put 'em in the same patrol. All else bein' equal, it makes things a bit easier. I reckon with that, the lads can handle the rest, but other folks will give yeh other good ideas. Keep in mind, you've got a big Patrol Leader Trainin' task ahead, eh? Start mappin' that out. Maybe a special long weekend campout, followed by some sort of combined fun/learning monthly event just for PLs. Make these practical, eh? Think outdoors, not power-point. Yeh want to jump-start their ability to do things for/with their patrols in da field, and yeh can't do that with paperwork. If yeh haven't had a chance yet, go do Woodbadge. Make sure yeh join da Beaver patrol. Hard workin' loyal folks, those Beavers. Beavah
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Yah, taxpayers pay less and less for state schools, eh? That's why tuitions keep goin' up, and why state schools do their best to recruit out-of-state students and foreign students who pay da higher tuition rates. In-state students are heavily subsidized by out-of-state students because da taxpayers aren't doin' much anymore. Havin' only state schools, though, isn't really great for democracies. It's da socialist/Soviet model for education. Beavah
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Yah, hmmm. I confess I don't quite understand statements like charity "at the point of a gun" and "stealing out of someone else's hard work" and all that. I fully admit that I'm a Christian sort of fellow and a Scouter, so I see helpin' other people and providin' opportunities for the young as a personal moral obligation. If yeh have a community where we've been successful as Scouters and Christians, then it seems pretty natural that a majority of da folks will be willing to vote to help other people and provide opportunities for the young. That's a victory, eh? We taught folks for 100+ years to help other people at all times. Economically, it makes a lot of sense to pay 100% for health insurance for kids and young folks, eh? That's an investment in future production and contribution to da country. Makes little sense for da country to pay for Medicare for retirees. They're just takin' from da system. They could have saved up for health care costs in their retirement, eh? And if they didn't, let 'em die in da streets and reduce da surplus population! Most of us gave up flirtin' with Ayn Rand when we were teenagers, though, and embraced Scoutin' values. Sometimes just votin' to charge yourself regular dues is easier than hostin' bake sales and popcorn sales and havin' someone hit yeh up for fundraisin' every other week. Payin' taxes is just regular, ordinary good citizenship, eh? I don't want to teach boys to complain about taxes, or jury duty, or military service, or any of da things that are just what we citizens have decided to do together. Now, we do have to stay mentally awake, eh? Sometimes there are better ways of doin' things, and we want to be alert to that. A fuel or carbon tax is better than lots and lots of regulations, perhaps. Individual market investments may make sense over da long term... or they may be subject to manipulation and robbery by bankers and financiers (or just hit by da latest market crash right when yeh need 'em). We should look at those things and experiment and argue and make da best decisions we can, eh? But after that, just like in Scoutin', we should all pull together... even if we disagree with what da PLC or da SPL decided. Beavah
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Hiya @@doakley, and welcome! Yah, sure, I've seen that sort of practice, eh? It tends to be more common in Patrol Method troops that are more active. I don't know where yeh are in your "reading everything", but one of da hardest things for us adults to get our heads around is Patrol Method. It's always easier for us to imagine that da SPL is the Man In Charge Who Runs Everything, and then da SM just coaches him. That's troop method, and while yeh can do it, it's not the best sort of Scouting. In Scoutin' we use Patrol Method to break boys up into smaller groups where they have lots of opportunities to practice planning and leadership. Instead of one boy gettin' experience being in charge, yeh can have 5 boys learning and plannin' and being in charge of their patrols. In fact, the patrols can be doin' their own campouts and da role of da SPL can just be coordinatin' to make sure they tell each other what their patrol calendars are. That way all those boys are gettin' experience doin' the things they'll need to do for an Eagle project, not just the SPL. So I'd encourage yeh as Scoutmaster not to retreat back to Troop Method Scoutin'. You'll like Patrol Method better, and it will be better for the boys. However, if yeh find it isn't workin' then that's a time for you to put on your Scoutmaster's Hat and train your patrol leaders. Get with your SPL and figure out how you're goin' to offer trainin' for your PLs on how to plan and run outings, whether it's their own patrol outings or if they're takin' a turn for the troop. Then da SPL or JASM becomes the fellow who offers support and encouragement (and some kicks in the pants), so they're learning other sorts of skills of communication and management. Yeh are buildin' lots of effective small group teams as a Scoutmaster, eh? Not one big one. Tell us a bit more about your troop and your current patrol structure, eh? Beavah
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Nah, one is pointin' a toy at another person. There's a difference, eh?
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Negotiate prices for whatever, eh? Lots of times when units go places as a group yeh can negotiate group rates or whatnot. Have a troop where da ASPL did that this winter for a cabin/lodge for a combined skiing / snow outing, for example. Reservations for whatever, eh? Campsites, events, lodgin'. And yah, sure, sometimes da grocer will negotiate too, eh? I've had OA lads do that with local grocers for service events. Why take those things away from the boys? Both are skills a lot of lads need when it comes time for Eagle projects. On da flipside, though, we do make decisions all the time, eh? Havin' an SPL is a decision that lots of troops make for kids, for example. Yeh could just have PLs, eh? Probably should just have PLs until a troop gets large enough for them to decide they need such a thing. But that's an example of makin' decisions as adults that provide da structure for kids to work within, eh? Sometimes yeh do that. Lots of troops make budgetin' and finance decisions, or safety planning decisions, or car travel/navigation decisions, or negotiatin' for services or makin' reservations instead of coachin' the lads. No particular reason not to train 'em, trust 'em, let 'em lead for those things, eh? Unless they're not quite there yet, and it's more important to just provide that structure while yeh let 'em work on other things like makin' good meal decisions or how to work with a younger lad with special needs. All things in balance. Yeh just need to be aware of such choices so that as the lads grow, yeh fade adult support and let the boys take over that work, too. Beavah
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Yah, I reckon if us older folks expect that da young people are goin' to keep payin' for our Social Security and Medicare, and keep workin' to fund our pensions and such, and are goin' to defend our country against cyber attacks and real ones, we'd better invest in their education, eh? Makin' young people stronger and givin' 'em opportunity is one of da best things we can do for the nation. Investin' in older folks is largely wasted resource economically. After all, we're all out here givin' young people our time for free, eh? In fact, I expect all of us are payin' pretty heavily for da privilege. And then we're givin' to FOS so that the lads can have more, with us payin' for it. That's an honorable thing, eh? Now, I reckon in some ways folks should get a free public education... once. If yeh have to do it a second time, that's on you. Beavah
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Scouting Magazine article makes me :(
Beavah replied to 5yearscouter's topic in Open Discussion - Program
Yah, I always understood fire's ability to travel up-slope, eh? I always wondered how da fires made it downhill, though, especially with a decent-sized rockpile or cliff. Figured it was sparks. Then at one point a fast-moving fire got a bit too close as we were retreatin'. Not a scout trip, just a few friends. Fire was on a ridge above about a 200 foot cliff; we were down below retreatin' down toward the river. The fire was throwin' burning trees over the cliff that were rollin' down the slope settin' other things on fire. Full burning trees! Absolutely terrifyin' and awe-inspirin'. Don't mess with fire. Beavah -
Yah, sometimes this is really the case, eh? If you're startin' a new troop with a bunch of 10 year olds, then it's really silly if yeh think the lads are goin' to right off the bat be makin' outing plans from scratch, callin' to negotiate prices and make reservations, plan safety and food and instructional activities and all da rest on their own. So yeh figure out what's reasonable for them to do with some coaching, and yeh handle the rest. As they grow, yeh quietly fade and shift more of da challenge on to them, eh? Success in small things gives 'em da practice and confidence they need to tackle bigger things. Boys' success in small things while communication and safety seem strong gives parents comfort and confidence to let their boys tackle bigger things on their own. Patrol Method, youth leadership, and all of Scoutin' are a journey, eh? Sometimes you're climbin' a mountain together with some young hikers and yeh have to take more of da load and be more encouragin'. Sometimes you're cruisin' on the flat or the downhill and they're goin' on their own. Yah, and sometimes as yeh get old and crotchety it's the lads helpin' da adults up the mountain. There are lots of ways to travel on da Journey of Scoutin', and lots of different roads to da destination, and lots of different groups on the trail. Beavah
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Yah, hmmm... There are lots of reasons why market capitalism works better than lots of other systems, eh? But it's a mistake to not recognize that it also has its problems and creates some problems, too. In order to keep it workin' yeh need to address those problems. One of da problems is that market capitalism relies on some measure of honor and ethics on da part of employers, eh? Takin' care of their workers, paying a just and living wage, helpin' good people advance and such. If yeh have employers who honestly view their role as takin' care of their workers and not just maximizing shareholder profit, then things work OK. If yeh have employers who only maximize shareholder profit rather than bein' ethical, then yeh can use da accumulation of capital to take advantage of workers, trap 'em in company towns or sweatshops, leverage da business to money in their own pockets and the like. Then yeh have unions and laws and regulations to deal with da bad behavior of employers. Another issue is that da purchaser needs to have access to good information in a market. If fraudulent information is out there, or simply lack of good information, then da market can't function as designed. So yeh need to have laws and regulations to deal with fraud, and yeh need a truly free and independent investigative press to give purchasers real information. In da real world, distribution of ability is not equal, eh? Some folks are smarter than others; some are better athletes and the like. That means that capital will naturally accumulate to those who are smarter, stronger, faster as they outperform others. That's a feature, not a bug, of course. Givin' ethical smart people more resources helps 'em do more to advance society. Da problem comes when yeh allow that accumulated capital to pass unrestricted to the next generation, and the next, eh? Havin' bright, ethical parents or an excitin', innovative start-up doesn't mean yeh are goin' to have bright, ethical, hardworkin' kids or an innovative older company. Accumulatin' capital that is allowed to pass unrestricted to the next generation leads to feudalism, eh? It no longer matters who is smarter or more hard-workin' or more ethical. It just matters what family yeh were born into that has accumulated all da capital. So yeh need mechanisms to break up accumulated capital sometimes, eh? Whether it's antitrust actions or estate taxes or da more spectacular alternatives of bankruptcies, depressions, looting, riots and revolutions, societies need mechanisms to break up feudalistic accumulations of capital. If yeh are a student of da Bible, this was handled in Old Testament times by Sabbatical and Jubilee years, eh? Set times when God ordered that capital be redistributed. Some folks who by dint of accident or illness or youth or age or disability or just not bein' as bright or strong or whatnot are not able to participate fully as workers in market capitalism. That means that those folks will be left behind and impoverished. Da more capital accumulates to a few, the more poverty yeh get, eh? So yeh need to have a very strong ethic of family and of charity for a capitalist society to thrive. Strong enough so that people choose carin' for their family over working more, and choose charity over maximizin' their own capital growth. Either that or yeh need to be OK with slums, and crime, and drugs, and homelessness, and disease, and da old and infirm and mentally ill dyin' on the streets. And so on... Da point is that market capitalism is a fine thing, eh? It can spur innovation and social advancement more effectively than other systems. But it's not enough to have market capitalism on its own. It requires strong personal and employer ethics, a robust independent press, a societal commitment to family, and community, and charity beyond family. And even then, it requires that yeh redistribute capital and not let it pass unhindered to da next generation. Beavah
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But scouts that haven't seen it done right before won't suddenly start doing it. More than just that, eh? Troops run downhill over time. Older boys move on, adults turn over, da focus becomes just gettin' the next thing done rather than embracin' a vision. The tree of Patrol Method and Youth Leadership and Values must be periodically refreshed by da blood, sweat, and tears of Scoutmasters. And sometimes of great PLs and SPLs. If yeh go back and read ol' Green Bar Bill's stuff, there's a lot about how Patrol Leader Training is an ongoing thing, eh? More along da lines of a special campout yeh do every month with da PLs than it is about an indoor session where yeh read canned job descriptions and talk leadership theory once a year. That sort of ongoin' PL trainin' changes over time, eh? Sometimes it might be about cookin' and meal planning for da young PLs who are strugglin' with that or learnin' how to teach it to their patrol. Sometimes it's about how yeh work with difficult younger boys. Sometimes other things. Da SPL and JASMs and such can be a great help with that, but Patrol Leader trainin' and coachin' in the BSA has always been an adult role, eh? Yeh identifity da reality of where your current troop is at, rather than imaginin' that every troop must instantly fit da BSA ideal model. Yeh pick the few things that will be the most useful to get your boys to the next step on the journey, and yeh work at those. Down the road a bit da conditions will change, kids' skills (and interests) will change, and what yeh do to coach and support 'em will change as well. But yeh don't disappear, eh? Adults, parents, etc. are part of the system of support and growth for kids. Beavah
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Yah, hmmm.... Yeh have one month, da PLC has its meeting plans, yeh don't even know if the lad will show up? Sometimes yeh just have to live with your mistakes, eh? Have a conference with the young man, and explain what happened, how it wasn't fair to da other scouts or to him, how you messed up. Then talk to him a bit about honor, eh? How sometimes some folks wear military honors on their uniform that they haven't really earned, or pretend to be former Navy SEALS when they never did BUDS. Point him to "Stolen Valor" on the internet. Then leave it up to the lad whether he chooses to wear the ranks he didn't earn in his new troop, or whether he tells his new SM "Hey, I'm listed as First Class but I really only earned Tenderfoot. Can yeh help me catch up and really do all the requirements for my paper rank?" Good lesson and life choice for the boy, eh? Also good measure of whether your program is teachin' the lessons that really matter. In the end, the boys in his new troop will know whether he has First Class skills and attitudes after his first campout. Badges are only meaningful if they represent what a scout is able to do. Beavah
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Yah, way longer than that, eh? Do yeh remember @@Oak Tree's old canonical summary of that argument from years ago? http://scouter.com/index.php/topic/23260-rules-shmules/page-3 Where is da Oak Tree anyway? Or lots of da rest of da old critters? Seems like Scouter.Com is down to just a few folks. Beavah