Reading MB Req 1

[alex gregory]

OK, here's the requirement:

Do EACH of the following:
a. Learn how to search your library's card catalog or computerized catalog by author, title, and subject.
b. With the assistance of your merit badge counselor or a librarian, select six books of four different types such as poetry, drama/plays, fiction, nonfiction, biographies, etc.). Ask your librarian or counselor about award-winning books that are recommended for readers your age and include at least one of those titles.
c. Find the books in the library catalog. With your counselor's or a librarian's assistance, locate the books on the shelves.
d. Read each book. Keep a log of your reading that includes the title of the book, the pages or chapters read, the date you completed them, and your thoughts about what you have read so far. Discuss your reading with your counselor. Using your log as a reference, explain why you chose each book and tell whether you enjoyed it and what it meant to you.

As advancement chair I'm trying to twist a librarian friend's arm into being the MBC, but we would both like to know whether or not req. 1(b) means what it says: "select six books of 4 different types . . .." I think that means read 24 books (6 books x 4 different types). 24 books in addition to regular schoolwork etc. (remember it's the scout's selection not what teacher selects at school) is a lot of reading for an adult let alone a kid, and nobody wants to dumb down a reading list just to make 24 books a realistic objective within a couple of months.

My son is an avid reader, but his normal pace for a 300 to 500 pg. book is about one book every 10 to 15 days.

I'd really like to know how Reading MBCs handle this requirement.

Is the Reading MB really supposed to be this challenging?

[kwildman]

six books of four different types = 6 books. They just cant all be sports books or all cant be science fiction.

Six books "each" of four different types = 24 books.

It is good if your MBC can challenge the scouts to read something that is not in the typical interest.

[Mrw]

six books of four different types = 6 books. They just cant all be sports books or all cant be science fiction.

Well said, That is exactly what they want.

[Quailman]

"Can't all be science fiction." I'm sure that's what you meant. Had my mother typed it 40 years ago she might have meant it the way you wrote it.

My son read a book of Shel Silverstein's poetry for this. They are light and fluffy. He asked me if I could recommend something a little meatier in the poetry genre. The only other poet I could think of was Emily Dickinson. Most of her work is about death and dying. His MB counselor asked me not to recommend any more books to scouts.

[kwildman]

"Can't all be science fiction." I'm sure that's what you meant. Had my mother typed it 40 years ago she might have meant it the way you wrote it.

My son read a book of Shel Silverstein's poetry for this. They are light and fluffy. He asked me if I could recommend something a little meatier in the poetry genre. The only other poet I could think of was Emily Dickinson. Most of her work is about death and dying. His MB counselor asked me not to recommend any more books to scouts.

i hate grammar! I would never get past school these days since it is all "language arts".

[Mrw]

[quote="kwildman

i hate grammar! I would never get past school these days since it is all "language arts".[/quote]

Judging from what my kids had in school, most of the fairly tedious grammar lessons have been completely dropped from "Language Arts."

My 19 year old college sophomore asked the other day what an adjective is!

[alex gregory]

Thank you Judges Quailman, MRW and Kwildman for your clarification and interpretation of the "statute". Six books sounds a lot more realistic. I'll go with the six book interpretation.

With all due respect, however, that is NOT what the plain meaning of the requirement says.

Requirement 1b: "[S]elect six books of four different types . . .."

If the requirement is supposed to be mean that a scout need only read six books it should say "read six books, of which at least four are of different types such as . . ." The grammar used in the requirement says 6 x 4, it does not say 6.

The boys will thankfully proceed on the assumption that there is adequate "legislative history" in support of the "6-book only" interpretation.

[AquilaNegra2]

We have interpreted the requirement as six books. The "recommended for your age" is important. I loved teaching this badge. Our librarian was thrilled to have the boys interested in her work, and she was very thorough.

We *DID* have one Scout choose all Star Wars books. He argued (successfully) that The Art of Star Wars, a George Lucas biography, Christian Wisdom of the Jedi Masters, History of Star Wars, and two Star Wars novels more than fulfilled the requirement (art, biography, self-help, history, fiction). Have to give points for creativity!

The four hours (didn't it used to be 8????) are pretty easy to fulfill when the "younger children" option is factored in.

[WVBeaver05]

Requirement 1b: "[S]elect six books of four different types . . .."

If the requirement is supposed to be mean that a scout need only read six books it should say "read six books, of which at least four are of different types such as . . ." The grammar used in the requirement says 6 x 4, it does not say 6.

I'm not an English teacher (and don't play one on TV, and don't want to, etc.), but to an Engineer that sentence clearly says 6 books.

YiS

[smtroop168]

Yeah Beav...you might not be an English teacher but did you stay at a Holiday Inn Express last night?

[alex gregory]

[quote="WVBeaver05"]
I'm not an English teacher (and don't play one on TV, and don't want to, etc.), but to an Engineer that sentence clearly says 6 books.quote]

It may say six to an engineer but that's not what it says to this attorney. Is it too much much to ask the powers that be to "say what you mean, and mean what you say""

[cballman]

I will stick my arm into this one. I read the req. to say 6 books with at least 4 different types of books. Not 6 books x4 Different types. Now I am not an Engineer or a Lawyer. But I did consult a Engineer She also reads only 6 books not 24. I will not say anything bad about Lawyers or Engineers since I am married to an Engineer.

[smtroop168]

It may say six to an engineer but that's not what it says to this attorney. Is it too much much to ask the powers that be to "say what you mean, and mean what you say""

Alex you mean like "active" vs "actively" ? How about Star/Life reqs to take part in service projects totaling at least 6 hours of work. How many service projects and do they each have to be 6 hours? I'm sure there is some SM out there that has had scouts do more than 6 total hours.

I had a discussion with the attorney in our troop. I asked him what "theft by taking" meant. I thought all thefts were by taking. 30 minutes later my head hurt as I found out the plethora of categories of thefts.

[alex gregory]

I like simple.

Read six books. Four of the six books cannot be the same type.

See Dick read. Dick can read. Dick can read six books. Dick can read at least four different types of books. Dick is not confused. Dick is very happy. Dick has earned the Reading Merit Badge.

[smtroop168]

Does Dick have a Blue Card or did he use it as a bookmark and lose it?

Actually if you want to have the wording clarified, you can send your request to Mr. Bill Evans who is the National Head of Boy Scout Advancement.

[evmori]

six books of four different types = 6 books. They just cant all be sports books or all cant be science fiction.

Exactly! Well stated!

[alex gregory]

Exactly! Well stated!

If it were "well stated" there woud be no question exactly what is meant by the statement. The point of this spirited discussion is that the requirement is NOT well stated.

[cballman]

I will stick my foot in my mouth on this one. It seems that everybody but LAWYERS can understand the wording of material in scouting. Just one of my many observations.

[Quailman]

[evmori]

I will stick my foot in my mouth on this one. It seems that everybody but LAWYERS can understand the wording of material in scouting. Just one of my many observations.

Lawyers & those who want to have total control!