Why First Class First Year?

[Eagledad]

Great Scouting All

 

>>Scouting is more than just keeping a group of kids happy. Scouts who are not advancing are not learning and practicing the skills and values of scouting, or if they are someone is evidently forgetting to recognize them for their efforts.

[FScouter]

The troop program should be wrapped around achieving the aims of Scouting and fulfilling the mission. Advancement is one of several methods to do that. First Class Emphasis (which is the original topic of this thread) focuses on the advancement method. I dont see anyone advocating either advancement, or fun, as a goal. I do see a red flag if boys are not advancing, or if they are not having fun. It shows that one or more of the tools is not being effectively used . If boys are wrapped up in a good Scouting program utilizing a variety of methods, advancement cant help but happen.

[Eagledad]

Hello all.

 

>>If boys are wrapped up in a good Scouting program utilizing a variety of methods, advancement cant help but happen. >First Class Emphasis (which is the original topic of this thread) focuses on the advancement method.

[evmori]

>>First Class Emphasis (which is the original topic of this thread) focuses on the advancement method.

[OldGreyEagle]

"Again right on the money, Barry. The emphasis is in the wrong place. A well run unit will make sure the advancement opportunities are available. It is up to the Scout to take advantage of them."

 

AND this is not the case in a Troop that uses First Class emphasis?

[Eagledad]

>>AND this is not the case in a Troop that uses First Class emphasis?

[OldGreyEagle]

"It needs to be marketed differently."

 

Now that is something I can agree with. It may be time to kill off First Class Emphasis, not because it was a bad idea, but because it was so mangled beyond its intent that it may be better to start over.

 

[Beavah]

AND this is not the case in a Troop that uses First Class emphasis?

 

AND it is often not the case.

 

Because program materials that put the emphasis in the wrong place encourage adult leaders to put the emphasis in the wrong place, too.

 

Any of us who work with a bunch of units see this happen all da time, eh? Especially with seat-time trainin' that has no performance component, people tend to take away simple messages. "Gotta get my kids to First Class their First Year."

 

Not many of 'em make it to da right "bigger picture", eh? Leastways, not for a lot of years.

 

Beavah

 

[Bob White]

Close Eagledad, here is what I was thinking.

 

The BSA program is developed around the notion that the attention of boys this age can be captured through outdoor adventure. The BSA program says that knowing this we can use the allure of the outdoors to teach specific skills that will develop the scouts in 3 specific areas of growth; Character, Citizenship, and Fitness. And that we can track what they have learned and accomplished, and give them positive reinforcement to learn more, through the advancement recognition program.

 

Adventures are ways that we can give scouts opportunity to practice and use the skills and lessons of scouting. Troop meetings are where they learn the skills they need to enjoy the adventure safely and skillfully.

 

So by taking part in the learning during troop meetings, and applying what was learned on the adventure, Scouts complete the requirements as they have fun. As the Scouts become more proficient in their skills the adventures get bigger.

 

First Class Emphasis teaches a Scout the basics of Scouting, and the basics of being comfortable outdoors(Tenderfoot to First Class skills), so that he can begin experiencing bigger and more challenging adventures his second year.

 

If scouting was only about kids having fun we would not need trained leaders or a program, all we would need are video games. Scouting is fun with a purpose, and to effectively fulfill a pupose you need a plan. First Class Emphasis is the first phase of a troop program plan in Boy Scouting.

 

Wearing a scout uniform is not what makes it scouting. Following the scouting program is what makes it Scouting. If advancement is not taking place then neither is a scouting program. There is nothing so difficult about the requirements of Tenderfoot through First Class that they could not be taught, practiced, and applied in a 12 to 14 month period. It just requires the adult leadership to make the decision to have a plan.

 

[evmori]

I'm all for scrapping First Class Emphasis! Never did understand why it was needed in the 1st place. Like I posted before, if a Troop is giving the Scouts the opportunities they need to advance, it is up to them to take advantage of it! After all, Scouting is for the boys, not us!

 

Ed Mori

1 Peter 4:10

[Eagledad]

>>It may be time to kill off First Class Emphasis, not because it was a bad idea, but because it was so mangled beyond its intent that it may be better to start over.

[Bob White]

If we get rid of every element of the program that a few adults did not understand, or did not like, then there would be very little left of Scouting in the U.S.A

 

 

 

[OldGreyEagle]

Eagledad, I thought you would give me something hard to do:

 

Memo to new scoutmaster:

 

Your program should be such that a scout can earn First Class in his First Year

 

 

[FScouter]

Lets take a test, how many new scout leaders can tell you how learning a knot at any age will advance Character, Fitness and Citizenship?

 

None, and therein lies a dilemma. BSA has figured out that learning knots is a way to self-sufficiency which leads to confidence and character and eventually fulfills the mission. The Scoutmaster Handbook and specific training talk about this, but Im afraid many new leaders dont get past the list of requirements in the Boy Scout Handbook and the checklist in the Troopmaster program. And like someone said earlier they have summarized the entire First Class Emphasis into one bullet point: git er done.

 

Eventually they see a bigger picture, but until they do, Scouts will get a lot of lecture time and check-off sessions at troop meetings.

 

To the new SM: Ensure that your troop program contains plenty fun and exciting hands-on and outdoor activities so that within a year or so new Scouts will learn all the skills found in the Tenderfoot, 2nd Class and 1st Class rank requirements.

[Eagledad]

>>None, and therein lies a dilemma. BSA has figured out that learning knots is a way to self-sufficiency which leads to confidence and character and eventually fulfills the mission.