My apologies for skipping the "I'm new here" intro post, but I'm hoping for some quick feedback on a situation in my troop.
I've been SM for about 5 months now, having been troop committee chair for about a year before that and advancement chair for a year or so before that. The troop is about 4 years old, but is still fairly small ... 16 boys, most of them 1st class & below. We held our first Life Board of Review during our troop meeting this past week, and the board (of which I was obviously not part) chose not to advance this particular scout. Naturally, he and his parents aren't happy about this ... and I'm hoping that y'all can help me understand a) whether this was a poor decision, and b) what the next step(s) should be.
This scout has met the requirements for Life ... namely, he served as SPL in our troop for 6 months while a Star Scout. He has earned the necessary merit badges, performed the necessary teaching in troop meetings, participated in service projects, etc. We had a SM Conference a few weeks ago where I shared that I was pleased with how his performance as SPL improved over the course of his tenure, and I offered some suggestions for positions of leadership within the troop as Life. I also offered some constructive criticism around what I see as some significant gaps in his "scouting knowledge" ... namely a weak command of some of the basic Second Class & First Class skills. He earned these ranks before I was really involved in the program side of things ... though I did hold the Board of Review meetings that awarded him those earlier ranks. But, the Board of Review is not supposed to be a "retest", so I can't speak directly to how rigorously these requirements were taught. But, I digress ...
Basically, what I have gathered is that the board members understand and agree that this scout has fulfilled the requirements (save the Board of Review) for Life Rank. However, they seem to have based their decision not to advance this scout on these things:
1) A perceived lack of interest in being a positive role model / mentor / teacher to younger boys in the troop ... indicating that he planned to take on one of the approved PoRs but disagreeing that part of his role in the troop is to help mentor / lead / teach the younger boys.
2) Not having answers to open-ended & leading questions like, "Can you think of ways that you could help the younger boys in the troop, or the new (13-year-old) SPL?" His response was apparently, "I don't know." Similar responses were received to questions like, "Did anything that you learned at NYLT over the summer help you in your role as SPL?"
3) Not appearing prepared for the review (handbook was forgotten, when retrieved from the troop meeting area he returned with the wrong book and had to go back again to get his own).
4) When asked to "properly recite the Scout Oath & Law", proceeded to recite them while seated with his arms folded (upon being asked "As SPL, would you have accepted the Scout Oath & Law recited in that manner from the boys in the troop?" he did stand, put the sign up, and recite them properly). (Side note, this is standard fare in BoRs in our troop, dating back to when I held them, including every BoR this particular scout has been through.)
The scout was advised that the board felt that he was not ready for Life rank. He was advised to reach out to the new SPL (a 13-year-old who is, frankly, struggling) as a mentor, demonstrate that he understands that this sort of leadership is part of what the troop wants to see in senior scouts, and appear before the board again next month.
So, my question is ... what are the factors that should be taken into account when deciding whether or not a boy passes the Board of Review?
When doing BoRs for younger boys, I often had to prompt them to properly recite the oath & law as above, or have them retrieve forgotten handbooks ... but personally I would expect a Life candidate to be past that having been through it a number of times. But, is that really something that should be considered when deciding whether or not to award a boy rank?
Given that this scout did meet the written requirements for leadership (holding a PoR as Star), should the indicated disinterest in being a mentor / role model be considered?
If a BoR in your troop had been similar to the one above, would the scout have been awarded Life Rank?
My personal opinion is that he met the requirements for Life, so while his position on leadership/mentoring isn't the response I would have expected ... I could see that as more of a teaching opportunity and something to keep in mind for the next BoR. As for the other things ... they sound minor, but by the same token, they sound like basic stuff that should be second-nature to a Star or Life scout.
So, long story short ... I'm looking for feedback from folks who have most likely a lot more experience here than I do. Further, if the board did make a poor decision, would holding another BoR be appropriate? I know that there is an appeal process, and the parents may go that route. As SM, though, I don't believe I have any real "say in the matter" here ... so I feel somewhat helpless.
Thanks in advance!
