The point would be that:
Royal Rangers used to be about membership in a group, that
held promise for individual character development.
It *still* is.
When I was a Ranger... *I had something to learn, something
to prove and something to share.
That became a learning ground for me to advance in school and on the job.
For the motivated boys, that is still the case. For others, Rangers is simply another place to display their 'coolness' and to have fun. Achievement and advancement don't enter the picture. Sure, they learn, but they are not concerned about any evidence of proof that they did learn something.
*If you are going to the effort to keep track of advancement
are you also sending home progress reports? *In the troop..
we would talk with a underperforming boy and then his parents
in a "Board of review"
Not like I get from my kid's school. I discuss advancements, home situations, parental situations and behavioral issues with the parent(s) when I can. We do not have a 'bar' to measure performance. I'm happy to have the boy there. He is exposed to Christian men, to Bible lessons and devotions and sometimes to life experiences. In some of my boys, he sees examples of strong Christian upbringing.
The extream option would be to offer them a $1 bill to transfer
to a Troop better suited for the boys positive growth.
Why would I ever want to encourage a boy to leave my outpost? Especially if I know that what I mentioned above will seldom occur in his life outside of Rangers?
D-
--- Ken Komoto <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote:
> Well, Duane, you assume that simply being present in the class is
> sufficient to earn the award. It ain't. Bible Study pages need to be
> completed, merit worksheets need to be completed, the actual skills need
> to
> be signed off. I have several boys who have been to every class and
> have
> never bothered to do the work involved to earn the awards. Net result:
> when merits and patches are awarded, they don't get them. Encouragement
>
> and one-on-one hasn't helped. They simply don't care about the
> awards. However, they've missed very few campouts and they have all the
>
> campskills and Bible knowledge I've ever taught.
>
> So I guess I miss your point. What was it?
>
> At 11:35 AM 9/3/2003 -0700, Ace Numer- Uno wrote:
>
> >Just a clanging bell to say that *Teaching Ranger material
> >like a course of classwork is redundent to the notion of "scouting"
> >
> >Yes it may be effective, and erase any mental prep work<G>
> >
> >But it also shoots individual achievement and the associated "Honor"
> >of personal effort in the foot. In the troop we attend.. a boy who
> >attends the meetings and campouts may *never make rank or rate.
> >
> >He might be asked why he isn't interested in advancement.. But he
> >never is given a bribe or cut a break on his duty. The weekly meeting
> >is often crazy or disorganized. Getting a handbook signed is hard
> >to do.. unless you get it done by your personal effort.
> >
> >How does teaching a Royal Ranger sunday school lesson promote the gold
> >points?
> >
> >How does holding a lecture/reading class relate to "earning" anything?
> >
> >Later in the life of every American Citizen...
> >
> >*Do we advance in life by attending classes, or by enguageing in the
> >struggle with all our talents?
> >
> >-=A=-
> >
============================================================
Kenneth Komoto,
Commander
mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED]
Adventure Rangers Outpost 193 Phone:
(530)752-7197
Southpointe Christian Center
Fax : (530)752-0329
Sacramento, Ca 95828
