Boards of Review
According to BSA:
“… periodic review of the progress of a Scout is vital in the evaluation of the effectiveness of the Scouting programme in the Unit”
“Not only is it important to review those Scouts who have learned and been tested for a rank, but also to review those Scouts who have shown no progress …”
Objectives of the Board of Review
BSA identifies the objectives of a Board of Review as:
• “To make sure the Scout has done what he was supposed to do for the rank;
• “To see how good an experience the Scout is having in the Unit
• “To encourage the Scout to Progress Further”
• “The Board is not an examination, the Board does not re-test the candidate”
• “The Board should attempt to determine the Scout’s attitude and his acceptance of Scouting’s ideals”
• “ The Board should make sure that good standards have been met in all phases of the Scout’s life. A discussion of the Scout Oath and Scout Law is in keeping with the purpose of the review to make sure that the candidate recognizes and understands the value of scouting in his home, unit, school and community”
• “ The decision of all Boards of Review is arrived at through discussion and must be unanimous”
Parental Participation
To ensure consistency and fairness, Troop 130 maintains a ‘pool’ of parents who share the work of Board of Reviews. We are constantly in need of volunteers to become part of this pool, as each Board of Review requires three parents. There are occasions, when as many as nine Scouts in an evening will be needing a Board of Review to advance to the next rank.
Requesting Boards of Review
A Scout requests a Board of Review as soon as he has completed the requirements for advancement and has successfully completed the Scoutmasters Conference. A Scout who is not advancing through ranks may also occasionally be asked to attend a Board of Review. Our target is that all active Scouts attend at least one Board per year.
When and where are Boards of Review
Boards of Review are normally conducted on the Monday evening prior to the Court of Honour at the same time as the Troop meeting.
A space away from the flow of Scouts and Parents is used and the Board has a degree of formality /seriousness, but should be friendly and without being intimidating or threatening to the Scout.
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Conducting a Board of Review the 6 Steps
Troop 130 Boards of Review are conducted in six steps and will normally last 20 to 30 minutes, (varying largely according to rank, with higher rank advancements taking longer). A Board of Review is conducted by three people, which cannot include a family member, close family friend of the Scout or Scoutmaster
1. A Board begins with the Scoutmaster or Assistant Scoutmaster (normally the SM or ASM who conducted the Scoutmaster’s Conference) introducing the Scout to the Board. The Scout indicates that he has completed the requirements and has secured the associated knowledge and skills. The Scoutmaster confirms that the Scoutmaster’s Conference has been successfully completed and signed off in the Scouts handbook, the Scoutmaster then leaves. A member of the Board explains the conduct of the Board and its objectives (normally 2 – 3 minutes).
2. The Board briefly explores the completion of the requirements. The purpose is not to re-examine the Scout but this discussion should help to put the Scout at ease. A secondary objective, especially in earlier ranks is to encourage the Scout to develop confidence in explaining his experiences to a group of adults in a relatively formal setting. (Normally 5 minutes)
3. Board proceeds to enquire how enjoyable and interesting an experience in Scouting, the Scout is having; his attitude and his acceptance of Scouting’s ideals. Discussions includes some elements of the Scout Oath and Scout Law. As a Scout progresses to higher ranks, they are expected to progressively demonstrate both understanding and application of the value of scouting in his home, unit, school and community (Normally 5 – 20 minutes, depending on rank; longer for an Eagle Board).
4. Once the Board is satisfied, the Scout will be thanked and asked to leave the room while they consider his progress. Most Boards are successful (i.e. it is normal for advancement to be endorsed). In unusual circumstances, reflection on the fulfillment of the objectives is appropriate and some Scouts may not be considered ready to advance. The Board should aim to reach a unanimous conclusion speedily to minimize unnecessary stress for the Scout. (Normally less than 5 minutes)
5. One of the Board members invites the Scout (and SM / ASM if available) to rejoin the Board and the Scout is told immediately the outcome and then the reasons explained. Explaining positive reasons as well as pointing to areas meriting attention is both appropriate. The purposes of this step, as well as conveying the outcome, are to encourage the Scout to advance further, to highlight significant positive/successful aspects and, if necessary, note areas that would merit attention.
• A positive Board concludes for the Scout with confirmation that his advancement has been approved and his Handbook signed. The formal recognition will occur at the next Court of Honour.
• A failed’ Board should be handled with care. The reasons for failure should be clear and next steps explained.
6. On completion, the Board members briefly review the process and agree how to provide feedback to Committee and / or Scoutmaster(s) on issues relating to the Scouting programme of the Troop.
An Eagle Board of Review has specific requirements.
Advancement Coordinator
The Advancement Coordinator Shona Fullerton (shonafullerton@gmail.com) is available to answer any questions you may have. If you wish to volunteer to be part of the Board of Review parent pool, please do contact her, as she will be very happy to hear from you.
