Parents as MB Counselors

[frankj]

If a parent is registered as a MB counselor, is it ok for them to counsel and sign off their own son?

[evmori]

frankj,

Yes it is.

 

In my Troop, I don't let a parent sign off on an Eagle required MB for his/her own son. I know there is nothing in BSA rules & regs regarding this but I feel this might eliminate any questions regarding whether these badges were earned or "given".

 

Ed Mori

Scoutmaster

Troop 1

[ScouterPaul]

Ed

I'm new to the Boy Scout program, Cub Scout experience. How do you know if the parent/counselor is qualified for the badge they are wanting to teach?

 

Paul

[evmori]

What I like to do is take thme on a couple camping trips & give these parents some tasks to see how they handle them. I do the same at Troop meetings. Also, if there is a merit badge related to their profession, I would feel they are qualified.

 

Ed Mori

Scoutmaster

Troop 1

[Bob White]

Ed,

I'm curious how your screening for merit badge counselors work. Let's say a parent who works for an insurance company offers to be a merit badge counselor for music and public speaking, what would you have them do on a campout or at a troop meeting so that you can approve them? Their profession has no connection?

 

Bob

[evmori]

Good question Bob.

 

I tackle public speaking 1st.

 

I would ask what type of experience he/she has. I would have them MC a troop ceremony. Also, while on a campout, I would have them around the campfire tell the Troop about themslef.

 

Now music.

 

Since I play piano & sing, I would be able to judge their musical ability. I would ask about their musical backround & take it from there. Also, on a campout, I would ask if they would bring their instrument (if appropriate) ans ask them to lead a sign along.

 

Ed Mori

Scoutmaster

Troop 1

[Bob White]

Ed,

That's my point, The merit badge counselor doesn't require your approval by performance. They put their credentials on the MB Counselor application and it is reviewd by the District Advancement Committee who follow up on any question of capabilities.

 

My wife who works for the insurance company, has a music degree a taught K-12 and is more than qualified but, she doesn't camp with the troop and I don't think they want to sing campfire songs to classical flute.

 

My concern is you don't mention training them on how to be a merit badge counselor, you just field inspect their skills. Just because she plays an instrument wouldn't tell you if she understood her role or responsibilities as a MB counselor.

 

I'd offer that you allow the District Advancement Committee to review credentials and you sit down with the parent and go over the booklet on how to counsel a merit badge.

 

Doesn't that seem more beneficial?

 

Bob

 

 

[evmori]

Bob,

Yes it does seems beneficial. And no, I don't think the Scouts would want to sing to a classical flute. But she should be able to lead them in song!

 

I would not want to turn in an application for a merit badge counselor who is registered with my Troop who was not proficient in the merit badge(s)they were signing up for.

 

Ed Mori

Scoutmaster

Troop 1

 

[Bob White]

I just wanted new leaders or untrained leaders reading this string to understand that appoving MB counselors is not something they need to do as unit leaders.

We only need to have the correct applications completed and sent in. Only the District and Council Advancement Committees have the responsibility and authority to verify and approve MB counselors.

 

If they see MB Counselor application come in that shows a music degree and a teaching and performance background they can make a qualified decision without hearing a single note being played.

 

Just my thoughts,

Bob

[evmori]

Bob,

OK blue cards at 20 paces!

 

I agree a person with a music degree and teaching & performance bakround SHOULD be well qualified as a music merit badge counselor. Not knowing at what level they teach, I see nothing wrong with seeing how they teach young boys music. This would apply to all merit badges, IMHO.

 

Ed Mori

Scoutmaster

Troop 1

[Bob White]

Turn and Fire

Now we agree. Taking time to train them (see how they teach) is a far cry from getting them to demenstrate their knowledge to a unit leader.

 

If you recruit a MB couselor you should make sure they understand how to be a MB counselor. They should not be made to prove themselves to you in thier field other than listing their qualifications as the application requires.

 

Bob

[evmori]

We have always agreed. It just doesn't seem like it.

 

Demonstrating their knowledge is the same as seeing how they teach. If I get a person who want to be a cooking merit badge counselor, they better be able to go on a camping trip & be able to cook! Plus they must be able to show the boys how to do it.

 

Ya can't show if ya can't do.

 

And being able to do doesn't mean you can teach!

 

Ed Mori

Scoutmaster

Troop 1

[Bob White]

Reconsider what you wrote Ed,

 

"Demonstrating their knowledge is the same as seeing how they teach"

then you say

"And being able to do doesn't mean you can teach! "

 

One statement contradicts the other.

 

If you hand a musician a sheet of music and they play it, they demonstrate their skill and knowledge but, you still don't have the slightest clue if they can teach.

 

When my son got Truck Transportation the MB couselor followed the syllabus, it was obvious though his skill was being a dispatcher not a teacher. (By the way I wonder how he would have demonstrated his skill at a campout) But he knew his job and his industry. teaching was obviously not a job qualification but he was a good counselor.

 

I've seen Range masters who were crack shots that were poor counselors because no one explained to them their role as a MB counselor and others who never shot but were great instructors.

 

The summer camp my son is attending has Space Exploration as a MB. Now I'll go out on a limb here and guess that the counselor is not an astronaut and has never been involved in the operation of a space shuttle or built a jet engine, but you say "Ya can't show if ya can't do" and I don't think that applies to well here. I'll bet using diagrams and other resources he can do just fine with a knowledge level of high-school physics.

 

My point is to others reading these posts, let The advancement committe do their job. Let go of things that aren't your responsibility and focus on what is. At the very least let your committee advancement chair worry about MB counselors. As Scoutmasters and Asst. Scoutmasters we have other responsibilities. This isn't one of them.

 

Bob

 

[Bob White]

Frankj,

 

I apologize for Ed and I digressing, we like to converse and strayed a litle.

 

As ed said early on Yes a parent can be a counselor for their son. it's recommended that it be done with another scout so that the parent is neither too hard or too soft on their own scout.

 

Bob(This message has been edited by Bob White)

[eisely]

As noted above, the rules do not prohibit parents from signing off on their own boy's merit badges. Also, as noted in an earlier post, many units I know seek to minimize this practice, particularly where eagle required badges are concerned. This isn't always feasible since some merit badges really do have serious requirments for a merit badge counselor to be qualified, e.g. lifesaving merit badge.

 

As Bob White notes, few units really check the credentials of their MB counselors as this is a district function. I don't think many districts do it either.