OldGreyEagle

Offal alright, Offal good at least as good as haggis In the book Huckleberry Finn, the slave Jim was the only trustworthy, loyal,helpful, friendly, courteous, kind, obedient, cheerful, thrifty,brave, clean and reverent charactor that Huck comes across. And I think that was the point(This message has been edited by OldGreyEagle)

So, do Medical Schools teach to the Medical Certification test? Law Schools teach to the "Bar" Accounting School to the CPA If the problem is the content of the tests, lets fix the tests, LisaBobs comment on Math and Composition is exactly what I am talking about, I keep hearing Teachers talk about issues like this and the issue never improves. I would really be impressed if the Pennsylvania Association of Teachers (Or whatever they call themselves) would commit come portion of funds to developing a better test and keep working at it. Now, that would demonsrate to me a committment to the youth. They don't have to fund it completely but make some offer. When you hear about teacher going on strike it seems like its always for more salary. Could they threaten to strike because the tests need to be improved? BTW, as I sit here composing this, I have an ad to the right about becomming an Ultrasounf Tech 100% on line. DOn't fall for that, it cant be done. And Beavah, its Xray Technologist, not Technician(This message has been edited by OldGreyEagle)

Always wondered why it was considered bad to teach to the test, and when I taught, my students had one heck of a test to pass. I was the Technical Director of a School of Radiologic Technology (X-ray Techs). It was a 2 year program and to work in a hospital one needs to be registered, one gets registered by the American Registry of Radiologic Technologists by passing the test, like a registered nurse passes a test If my students did not pass, I would be out of a job. Talk about a performance bonus, performing meant I could keep my job Sounds simple enough, all I had to do was "teach to the test" but one never knew what questions would be on the test. I knew there would be 200 questions with a set amount of Anatomy and Physiology, Physics, Radiographic Positioning, etc so the program taught Anatomy and Physiolgy, Physics, etc. I didint know what questions that would be used from test to test so "all" I could do was teach what the students needed to know and see what happens. For the three years I taught everybody passed. Not sure if its a testament to my teaching ability or that I had the luxury of motivated intelligent students. So, what is on the standardized tests? Addition? Quadratic Equations? Why is teaching to the test bad? If you know the questions, yes thats bad, but if all you know is the type of questions, why not?(This message has been edited by OldGreyEagle)

Not knowing anything about Bob Chanin, perhaps that attitude is why he is the former NEA general counsel?

I didnt want to get specific in the parent thread as I want to talk specifically about Teacher Unions here. First I agree with Lisabob's comment about going into teaching knowing that you wouldn't get rich. In the early 80's I was teaching at Indiana State University-Evansville (now the University of Southern Indiana). The school had many varied programs, one of which was a Mining Technology Program in the Engineering College. Graduates routinely made more than the professors and the University could not keep professors for very long as they kept leaving to work in the industry. The ones who stayed stayed because they couldnt get hired, and generally were a dour group Then there is the other shoe falling For quite awhile now the US has struggled with the Public Education System. We always seem to be behind other civilized countries in literacy, math skills ,science, or something like that. Big cities school systems tend to be more babysitting facilities than bastions of learning. Governors and Presidents run on platform of Educational Reform time and time again yet our Public Educational System pretty much still sucks. Every year some local school system has negotiations with their TEachers Unions and a strike always seems to either occur of just get missed yet I do not ever hear anyone ever say that teachers have to improve the education level of the school or else. Well of course, the or else is the sticking point. Or else they get fired and someone else gets to teach? Presumably better, but if such uber teachers exist, are they not already employed? How do we increase the effectiveness of Public Education, are Unions needed or not? Do they help or hurt or are a non-factor? I recognize the need for Unions, but do they have a place in Education or again, is this just a red herring?

yeah, that's what I was going to say (This message has been edited by OldGreyEagle)

See, from http://www.thefreedictionary.com/fagot 1. A bundle of twigs, sticks, or branches bound together. 2. A bundle of pieces of iron or steel to be welded or hammered into bars. tr.v. fagoted also faggoted, fagoting also faggoting, fagots also faggots 1. To bind into a fagot; bundle. 2. To decorate with fagoting. Way back when I was in High School, history was a lot easier as so much of it hadn't happened yet and having a fagot was a colloquial term for a cigarette, I was told this came from the bundling of sticks together to sell to people to burn in their stoves/fire places. Language is dynamic, to quote a line from the movie "Fame" I remember when gay was a happy word

Just had to spin this one First of all, I am for Unions, my father was a member of the IBEW, I respect what Unions stand for ideologically. I do have an issue with some Unions attitudes about the never ending spigot of cash and have no regard for the future That beind said, I have little respect for those who would exploit workers and are the reasons Unions are necessary in the first place. Labor vs Management relations, talk about a place where Scoutlike values would come in handy

A discussion on current events could involve asking the candidate how applying the scout law could resolve issues, or have prevented them in the first place. Not knowing anything about a particular subject would not mean the scout could not pass. Personally I would have more of an issue with the being in full uniform but that is a discussion for a spun off thread

Have you read the discussion on the merits of the "old" and "new" Wood Badge?

While I am sure some Medieval Monks thought the demise of Illuminated Manuscripts was as sure the death knell of Western Civilization as some think Wood Badge for the 21rst Century is to Scouting, I always thought the Gutenburg printing press was a good thing. It put books in the hands of the masses, but I digress One would hope the words in the Declaration of Independence have impact because of the ideas they represent and explain, not because of the media on which they reside. The Gettysburg Address has impact because of what is said, not that it was composed on the back of an envelope or something like that. Then again, as the 1990 Movie "Spirit of 76" demonstrates having a paper back-up is always a good thing in case a rogue magnetic storm degausses recorded history and documentation (This message has been edited by OldGreyEagle)

I wouldn't be to hard on BadenP, here is a guy who has worked with the IRS, worked in the BSA, worked in the Catholic Church and did DOD Intelligience work for several years. Along the way he got Advanced Divinity Degrees from both Notre Dame (Masters) and Harvard (Doctorate), is an ordained minister and still very involved in Scouting. He may have a brusque style at times but he has the best interest of scouting at heart. BadenP, if I got anything wrong, please correct me

See now, I just thought ScoutBox wanted to know what the limits were of Beads and who had worn the most and that sort of stuff. Sorta like the esoteric discussion about whether or not there will be another 6 star general in the US Army I didnt get the impression he wanted to add beads to his total, just who had them

Or a simple misunderstanding with malice towards none and charity for all

So much depends on the context and what is meant by "hit", but if the police are involved, then banning the parent may be a moot point. I know it wasn't a Youth Protection Issue, but has Council been advised what happened so when the Media calls about the Dust Up at Pack XXX's Pinewood Derby they wont be taken off guard? I have to say if a parent ever "hit" me, I might be going down with a glass jaw, but I shall arise with a new house (well to me anyway)

I had a dog and .... Well Welcome to the Forums, first lets take a lool at what the BSA says about a Scoutmaster Conference: http://www.scouting.org/filestore/pdf/18-629.pdf Its time to talk about what the scout wants to do and how best the Scoutmaster and the resources of the Troop can help. As far as making sure the scout knows "his stuff" that is handled through the program, the scout has been tying knots and using first aid skills and using map and compass skills duting troop activities, there can be no doubt the skills are known, or you know where the scout is weak and you have presented opportunities for the scout to remediate his skills. If this does not happen, perhaps a review on how to pack more scouting skills in your program is in order

There is always the possibility that ScoutBox was just curious about who wore the most beads and I learned alot from the previous poster's. That's what the forum is supposed to be, collegial peers sharing information

I agree with Hawkrod, he's description of Wood Badge as "it is just an educational process that allows for bonding with other like minded individuals and a sense of belonging to a greater purpose." Is one of the best I have seen. And although BadenP may seem obstreperous at times, his life's experiences and education give him an unique viewpoint on things that few here, or anywhere can match

Gunny,I am glad it worked for you, a buddy of mine had an RX-7 with a Wankel, I was often one of the guys pushing ...

Ah, the Mazda, they had the revolutionary Wankel engine, as memory serves, it had three moving parts, you behind the wheel and the two guys pushing ...

See, I would have been thinking about starting a Venturing Crew and the girls would be one step up because they were already teaching skills Youth learning from each other, what a concept!

I want to be Politenessman, I have a list to whack with my stainless steel hankie...

Not sure if Issues & Poltics is the place for this, but its where I put it All this talk of cars and bondo put me in a nostalgic mood, thinking of my first car(s)and the other kids in the neighborhood first cars, the GTO, the camaro owned by the rich girl. It also reminded me of a lesson that took a few years to learn. My father and mother had friends who lived just a couple houses away. We traded going to each other's house for holiday dinners. The father was, well, to put it honestly, was not nice. He was the first adult I knew who was not nice. My Cubmaster was a nice man, the scoutmaster was a nice man, all of my father's friends were nice, well at least to me, except this guy and it took awhile for that to sink in. At the dinners he would ask me about sports, in fall I would lament the Bears latest loss and how had Sayers just shook one more tackle in this game and Butkus made a tackle in another they would be champions. To which he would reply And if frogs had wings they wouldnt bump their ass when they jumped. At first it was funny, I didnt know adults who said "ass" in front of youth, In the summer I would talk about the Cubs and Sox and their latest woes, just a hitter and a pitcher away from hitting the big time. And he would say something disparaguing about the Wrigley family or Comiskey Park or something. Once the Bears had a great season, over .500 I think and I was so proud, I knew he couldn't say anything bad and when we talked about it, he said, yeah well they wont be any good next year. Then it hit me, The Bears, Cubs, Sox, Hawks Bulls, etc would never be good enough for this guy and he enjoyed tormenting me about it. I stopped talking to him about sports because I learned he would never respect my opinions, he would always be not nice. Its a tough lesson to learn, but it does come in handy Some people live to be miserable and we just have to accept it, there are no magic words that will change their personality

Lakewood huh? I don't suppose Southside Johnny will be singing the natinal anthem, huh?

http://www.scouting.org/filestore/pdf/18-125.pdf check page 4