Allow Older Boys To Teach Totin Chip "Class"????

[Billiken]

Does your troop allow older boys (Star/Life/Eagle) to go through/teach the knife/saw/hatchet safety issues required for the Totin Chip?

My new troop requires that this be taught by an adult.

I know of another troop in which the teaching of the issues re the Totin Chip are used to satisfy requirement #6 of Communications MB.

Thanks

[Scouting179]

Every troop I've been with since the late 1960s allows older boys to teach Totin Chip (not Chit, look at the card closely) and Fireman Chit.

I see no reason why this couldn't be used for Comm. MB.

[commish3]

We have First Class Scouts and higher teach all the basic skills from Scout through First Class.

[Billiken]

We have First Class Scouts and higher teach all the basic skills from Scout through First Class.

We do to, except for the Totin/Firem'n Chip/Chit.

[Mrw]

We have our older boys teach all the skills through First Class. Safety related things must be signed off by an adult. Any time the boys would be teaching those skills, there would be an adult looking on in case any sort of problem might arise.

[DPuck]

Like everyone else, we have the older scouts teach it. There really is not much that our older boys dont teach.

[RWSmith]

Unless otherwise specifically stated, the authority given to sign off any skills test, be it Tote-N-Chip, or rank advancement, even a MB*, ultimately rests with the SM, and said authority may only be delegated by him or her. In fact, it MUST be (is supposed to be) specifically delegated by the SM. If, and only if, the SM says that so-and-so is authorized to sign "it" off, whatever "it" is... then that's "it". It is a widely (and wisely) accepted practice to allow senior, experienced, capable Scouts sign off on Tote-N-Chips or junior rank requirements, for example... that's fine. But, it falls within the perview of the SM's authority (and responsibility), not tradition.

(*) Yes, there are District/Council Advancement Committee required, approved, authorized, yada, yada, yada, MBC lists... But, the SM still retains the authority to select the MBC, should he so choose. However, once a Scout starts a MB, the SM's authority has been, in effect, delegated to the MBC, whether the SM selected the MBC or not becomes moot, and he (she) is obligated to accept the results. See: http://www.meritbadge.net/phpbb/viewtopic.php?t=490

[Lynda J]

Hopefully next week two of our older boys one Life one Star are teaching knife and axe safety to the boys who are working on Tenderfoot and Second Class. I think that many times the younger boys learn faster from the older boys.

[diamondbackAPL]

personally, I don't see anything wrong with it. However, I would recommend having an adult present, just in case.

[Mick Scouter]

There should always be an adult around. SM is responsible and should do the right thing.

[ASM-142]

My troop started having older scouts teach tot n'chip two years ago. It has been a great experience for them as well as the younger scouts learning

[commish3]

There should always be an adult around.

see signature line below.

[Billiken]

I agree with the boys training the boys.

I've been an ASM now for 2 weeks.
It's a good troop with a solid committee.

Several issues I need to "address", including this one.


Thanks again everybody, you reinforced what I thought was true.

[ASM-142]

There should always be an adult around.

see signature line below.

Agree. If the boys are qualified to train then adults do not always have to be around to include during patrol meetings.

[Mick Scouter]

If it is a Scout function; Shouldn't two adults always be around?

[commish3]

If it is a Scout function; Shouldn't two adults always be around?

Not at all. If it is a troop function to adults must be present. Where they are and what they are doing is determined by the needs and skill levels of the scouts at the time and in the activities they are dioing.

You need to know and understand the characteristics if each scout in order to know where you need to be and how involved you need to be.

But the purpose of the program and a goal of the patrol method is to develop young people who can make good decisions on there own. If you believe the scouts will never have the ability to function without adults near them then you need to take a good hard look at what is actually being taught if anything.

Patrol activities, (as explained in the YPO trining, the G2SS, The Scout Handbook, The Scoutmaster handbook, The Patrol Leaders handbook and the Scoutmaster training) can take place without any adults present (including campouts) providing they have the SM knowledge and permission.

Train them, Trust Them, Let them Lead! That is what the Patrol Method is all about.

[Mick Scouter]

Sorry,

I broke my golden rule by not explaining myself fully. Unless I am mistaken, in order to have a scout function one must have adult leadership. I did not mean they have to be standing over the boy's shoulder but they need to be around.

[commish3]

Only at troop activities not individaual Patrol activities.

[ASM-142]

I agree with Commish3 on this. Adults are not needed for patrol meetings or activities.

[commish3]

Check out page 20 of the Boy Scout handbook!