Board of Review - What We're Listening For
| Category: | Advancement |
|---|---|
| Notes: | For the adults, not the Scouts. Read it to committee members and parents before they sit on a board of review, at a committee meeting, or at an adult leader training. Part of a series - see also board-of-review-a-conversation, scoutmaster-conference-more-than-a-signature, and board-of-review-not-yet. |
In a few minutes, a Scout is going to walk through that door, probably more nervous than any of us were at their age. Before they do, I want to remind us what we're here for.
We are not here to retest the requirements. Those were signed off by people who watched the Scout do the work. If we start quizzing knots or first aid, we're telling the Scout we don't trust the troop, and we're teaching them that advancement is about passing an exam.
We're here to listen. A board of review is one of the few times an adult outside the Scout's family sits down and asks, "How's it going?" and really means it. We're listening for how the Scout is growing. We're listening for how the troop is working. Is the patrol method alive? Are the older Scouts teaching? Is anyone being left out? A Scout will tell you things in that room that they'd never say at a meeting.
Ask open questions. "What was the hardest requirement for this rank?" tells you far more than "Did you enjoy the campout?" Let silences sit for a moment. And let the Scout do most of the talking.
Most of all, remember that every Scout should leave this room standing a little taller than when they came in. If they do, we did our job.