From: kary@col.hp.com (Dan Kary)
Subject: Re: Who signs off on Tenderfoot - 1st Class?
Date: Wed, 8 Apr 1992 22:53:25 GMT
Organization: HP Colorado Springs Division

mpb@troy.uucp (27331-bunz) writes:

> So, if in addition to letting me know who does the sign off, also try
> to give me a feel for who runs your Troop - All Scouts, Mostly Scouts,
> Scouts and Adults, Mostly Adults, All Adults.  For those that have
> been successful in moving toward more Scout leadership, who did you do
> it?
> 
> Marc (the Wayside Wanderer)

The ideal situation is described in the BSA Troop Operation Plan as a
"boy run troop".  In reality every troop is different varying from 100%
adult run to about 99% boy run (some things require adults, i.e. driving).
Every troop that is less than 99% boy run has opportunities to put boys
in charge of things.

In Troop 62, Pikes Peak Council (Colorado Springs, CO) we feel comfortable
having any Scout, First Class or above sign off any advancement through
First Class (except Scout Spirit, Scoutmasters Conference and Board of
Review).  In our Board of Review we typically ask boys what they did for
some requirements and use this as a quality control check on the older
boys.  If we find a boy is not knowledgeable about a skill we talk to the
boy who signed him off about the importance of making sure the skill is
learned before signing the book.  We are walking a kind of thin line here,
a Board of Review is not supposed to be a re-testing of requirements.  So
we try to discuss activities and skills in the context of what kind of
things the boy did at outings, not as a quiz on individual requirements.

We let the boys run everything they want to run and have shown some ability
to run.  The SPL runs the meeting, at some point in the opening he will
invite the SM, CC, etc. to address the Troop if they desire to.  There is
usually a skill presentation at every meeting.  Patrols take turns presenting
a skill, we have 4 patrols so each patrol does a skill each month (on average).

The boys elect Troop and Patrol leaders three times a year for 4 month terms.
We used to have 6 month terms, but the boys wanted 4 month since it worked out
better for older boys who may be very active in school (band, athletics, etc.)
for one semester, 6 month terms always messed them up.  We have a Patrol
Leaders Council (PLC) once a month attended by SPL, ASPL, PL, APL, SM and
sometimes some SA and MC where the boys plan the troop meetings for the next
month.  The first PLC after an election is 4 month planning where the outings
are planned.  The boys pick the weekend, location, etc. for camping trips.
Adults make their suggestions to the SM who tries to influence the PLC but
sometimes the boys just don't like our ideas.  Details for each outing are
planned at the monthly PLC, the 4 month planning just decides location and
date.  I liked the 6 month planning better because it was easier for me to plan
my calendar, the 4 month planning gives more boys an opportunity to participate.
Summer camp is planned a year in advance because reservations need to be made
that early.

Our participation in Scout Expo is now planned by adults.  The boys enjoy the
event, but have shown little ability or enthuasiasm for planning and organizing
a booth.  We tried letting them do it for a couple years, they did poorly and
didn't like the job.  They gladly turned it over to adults.  We usually do one
skiing trip a year, this is also planned mostly by adults.  The boys pick the
weekend and ski area and leave everything up to adults.  I mention these as
examples of how we try to let the boys decide what they will run themselves.

Don't try to do all this at once.  We didn't.  Start with having the oldest,
most skilled boys teach a First Class skill in a meeting.  Let all the boys
have an opportunity to try the skill.  The Patrol Leaders can test individual
boys who need to have the skill signed off and sign their book.  At first all
phases of teaching/testing/signing can be closely monitored by adults. 
Eventually pass the teaching task to Patrol Leaders and other First Class Scouts.
At some point you and the boys should gain enough confidence to authorize them
to sign requirements without supervision.  You may initially do this on a case
by case basis, authorizing specific boys to sign advancements and perhaps giving
them the position of Instructor or Junior Assistant Scoutmaster.

This method of gradually passing responsibility to boys can be applied to all
areas of your program.  As the boys take more responsibility the troop gets
easier to run, you retain more older boys, everyone has more fun and learns more.

Dan Kary
kary@hpcsos.col.hp.com