Scoutmaster conferences

[FRUSTRATED SCOUTMASTER]

Good Evening All!

I need some help and suggestions. I have found out that one of the units that I am a Commissioner for has a problem with Scoutmaster Confernces.
The Scoutmaster "tests" the boy on every requirement in a Scoutmaster Conference. I mean that for whatever Rank the boy is going for, the Scoutmaster will "test' even back to the previous earned ranks. He opens the Scout book and goes from joining requirements to current rank requirements. This could be all the way from Tenderfoot to Eagle. If a boy misses something, or forgets something, he fails the boy and makes him come back at another time. His normal Scoutmaster Conference lasts 1.5 to 2.00 hours.
I have just been made aware of this by a Scout who recently came before our District Board for his Life rank. The boy was very nervous, and afterwards told us he thought he failed because of his experiences in his Troop.
I am going to meet with the Scoutmaster to discuss this situation and try to resolve it.
Any suggestions?

Bob Klimas
Formally Frustrated Scoutmaster:confused:

[WB Bear]

It sounds like there is a need for some reading and training needed. There is information in the Scoutmaster’s Handbook regarding the BOR. There is also a Scoutmaster Conference Training module. Here is the link for the module. http://www.scouting.org/boyscouts/trainingmodules/scoutmaster%20conference%20training.aspx

I am also curious why a Scout is going before the District for Life?

[FRUSTRATED SCOUTMASTER]

WB:

Thanks for the info on Scoutmaster Conferences.
Regarding your question about Life Board. Our District has had for the last 5 Years a District Board for Star, Life, Eagle Projects, and Eagle.
We did this so as to make a boy feel comfortable coming before other members of the District and not just their own Troop Committee. It is not mandatory, though, for Star and Life. It had been well received by Scoutmasters and the boys themselves. It has proved to be a success for us.

Bob Klimas
Frustrated Scoutmaster
Concord, N.C.