OldGreyEagle

You want structure? Design a schedule that will gget you an Outdoor Bronze in a year, and the Ranger in two. After that schedule yourself for the Gold and Silver. While doing the Gold and Silver fit in the Bronze for Religious Life, Sports, and Arts and Hobbies. Now that would be structure. Finding a Crew? That is a whole nother kettle of fish

In all the talk about how to improve schools and the educational process, whether its year round school or improve teacher preformance or something else, the most important factor and number one ( in my opinion)contributor in the success of a students education is rarely if ever mentioned. That of parental involvement. Why is the parents role in the educational experience not talked up more? Children do live up to parental expectation, children do model parental values. If as a society we wish to improve education, we must as a society expect parents to be as active in a childs education as any teacher

SO, what about this Roman Polanski guy?

One wonders if it was Father Roman Polanski, refugee Roman Catholic priest who fled the US under identical circumstances, who was just arrested whether or not the same glitterati would be calling for his head?

http://www.lehighvalleylive.com/today/index.ssf/2009/10/bethlehem_township_pa_teen_wri.html

Is it possible to skip the pie talk, and if you are done with a subject to just not refer back to it? Someone may see the topic as over and done while a few others are still discussing it. Would it be better to not post or continue to talk about pie?

I have receied a few PM's from some newer folk who have no idea why some talk about Pie. I understand its an inside joke, but inside jokes are not funny to those not in the know. If we are to continue to make pie comments, can the first person to bring up pie explain what they are doing so it doesnt leave several people scratching their collective heads in wonderment?

Sorry Guys, I only know what I experienced. When I was teaching at Indiana State University-Evansville, now known as the University of Southern Indiana I was told I was paid for 12 months and I better work it and that was the way it was in all schools. I didnt know better so maybe I do now. I was the technical director of Education for the Radiologic Technology program there in the School of Allied Health. Seems quite a few of the professors in the Humanities Dept didnt like us being part of the University. Seems they thought we belonged in a technical school because of our limited curriculm. Seems actually giving students employable skills was not what an University education is all about. Nothing like being told you dont belong in a faculty senate meeting I lived and learned there, I do as well here. PS I was on the Economic benefits committee while I was there. Seems the only thing I got out of it was there were no economic benefits to teaching

always thought the summer vacation was due to the fact that the early US was an agrarian based society and the youth were needed in the fields and/or no one wanted to have kids sweltering in the school buildings. I don't know if all school buildings have A/C but that could be an expense. We pay teachers for 12 months, why not have them work 12 months? And I mean no disrespect to teachers, but why not have them work. It does mean quite a realignment to society beyond the schools. Vacation spots would take a hit at the least

OK, we know we can't retest skills, but then how do we keep them fresh? How do you assure yourself the scout skills of Tenderfoot to First Class are kept and honed?

Three great answers, Scout Spirit- How one lives the oath and law. No mention of when the uniform is worn, no mention of how many events one attends, how one lives the oath and law. Scout Spirit is not a weapon kept in the Scoutmasters arsenal so when all else fails, he can pull it out and prevent an underserving scout from advancement. It seems like Scout Spirit is bandied about when there is no tangible evidence the youth cannot advance, he has done all the requirements, yet the unit doesnt think he is ready so out trots the Scout Spirit card. So many issues in Scouting that occur at the Eagle level should have been addressed at ranks or the unit level so much earlier. An Eagle candidate that is a known bully? Always causing problems? How did he get to life? How did he fulfill his POR? If the argument is he did just enough to slink by all those, but Eagle, Eagle is different then the unit needs a quick kick in the butt. Being a First Class Scout mens quite a bit, there are a lot of scouting/outdoor skills that must be present. If those skills are not present, its not the scout's fault, who signed them off and who allowed them to be lost? Don't use Scout Spirit as the weapon of last resort, use it to inspire youth to live the Oath and Law

Jerks come in all shapes and sizes, don't they?

Ok, Just what do you define as Scout Spirit?

SO appearance is more important, who knew?

There is no requirement that a scout own a scout uniform, whether he is a tenderfoot or sitting for an Eagle BOR. Just a question, you turn down an Eagle Candidate because he was not in uniform, he is not slovenly, that comes next, but well dresed, just not in uniform. He appeals. What is your defense? That he wasnt in uniform and you wanted him to be? That's all you got? Now, that doesnt mean if an Eagle candiate were to present not in uniform there would be questions about, and what the uniform meant and how the uniform is used and depending on the answers, well, it depends on the answers. I see the whole the Eagle candidate must be wearing a full and complete uniform or he doesnt stand a chance to pass as just another adult obstacle fueled by small minded people who lack control over their lives and just have to show somebody that they have power, it may just be here in this Eagle board of review, but by God, its the only power I have and I shall wield it Then again, thats just my opinion, I could be wrong. When did appearance trump content of charactor?

You may consider attending a Powderhorn Course. Powderhorn will not teach you to ski, scuba dive, climb mountains or Mountain bike, but it wll give you a taste of these items (maybe) and the resources you need to present to the troop the possibilities of doing these activities and where to do them in your area. Do you get to Cabela's a lot? I love Reading Rocks, the owner is an Eagle

Sherm, wearing the uniform has nothing to do with Scout Spirit

An interesting proposal was made at a recent crew, seems since the Crew knew they could design their own uniforms, some of the young ladies wanted to go with Cub scout shirts tied up at the midriff, very EMO, and I didnt know they were still around. Luckily, or perhaps not, they were told just as a Crew can't wear the Boy Scout unifor, neither can they wear the Cub scout uniform either I have to say this: How do you describe an EMO band? 5 guys in girls black jeans wearing black eyeliner crying Why do you hope your lawn turns EMO? Then it would cut itself

The issue would be, does the BSA allow Heterosexual scouts as well? Well, as far as I understand it, a youth is a youth. Their sexual orientation is not the concern of the unit. If it's unclear if a Homosexual Scout would be able to continue in a position of leadership/responsibility, a heterosexual scout (unless married) who was sexually active wouldnt be able to continue his position of leadership/responsibility as well. If a scout has sexual identity issues, an adult leader "may" be able to counsel the boy, but man oh man, they could be in over their heads quite quickly. If you are not qualified to do such counseling, tell the boy so and see what you can do to help him, but watch what you do yourself, I dont think such issues are for amateurs. When I think of the Troop I serve, I don't look at 40 odd heterosexuals with a possible 4 homosexuals. They are all scouts. If any of them were to be "caught" in sexual activity either homo or hetero on a camp out, the result would be the same

Just a bump to an old post, notice the respect and civility shown towards the president

Just a bump to an old post, notice the respect and civility shown towards the president

C'mon, remember back a few years there was a poster who said he was jeopardizing his memebrship in the BSA because he wouldn't pledge allegience to GW? He wouldn't pray to GW just because the rest of his troop did?

We could find creepy video's of similar age children singing the praises of GW as well. (maybe) Just because something absurd happens doesn't mean its anything but absurd and solitary. When thousands of children march with torches into stadiums adorned with 30 foot high banners of Pres. Obama, then we worry

Why not have the scout in quesiton demonstrate a few of the skills he says he learned? Its not a once and done thing in scouts, just because I tied the bowline last month doesnt mean I will never have to tie it again, the scout needs to be in a program where knowing how to tie a bowline is important, the start a stove, to find his way in the dark. We can't just teach skills without a context in which to use those skills. DO the samething here. What happened to trust but verify?

I have looked many places but as yet I have yet to find any scouting group that says monotheism is the only way to be. I beleive amongst the regulars of this forum there are many who are followers of belief systems other than Christian, Jewish or Islam and I take this forum to be as random a group of scouters that can possibly be. Now, as I haven't been everywhere, I can't and won't speak on a national level, but I have yet to be anywhere where my beliefs were important to anyone but myself. I have to say if I was in such a situation, I wouldnt remain there long,whether or not I met the "expectations" of the group.