Theirishscouter opposes censorship.
Freedom of speech, even when you do not like what is being said (perhaps especially when you do not like what is being said), should be defended.
Continue reading Freedom of expression in Scouting Ireland (Part 2)
Tag Archives: Scouting Ireland
Unhealthy Obsession?
The irish scouter is aware of a ‘Safety Statement’ the result of what has presumably been an exhaustive analysis of the topic of Health & Safety, risk assessment and associated subject matter. It explores and seeks to place a framework around the role of Health & Safety in the context of Scouting, in particular in the context of local Scouting in the community. It runs to more than 30 pages, a weighty tome but nonetheless has, it is understood, been approved for onward circulation to the membership.
Quality. In Quantity?
The QSE (Quality Scout Experience) concept unveiled at National Council 2014 has begun a series of pilot projects around the country from about now. At its core, QSE looks like it’s a way for groups to identify what they do that works and perhaps more importantly, what they currently do that doesn’t work (or might benefit from some improvements).
Chair Challenge
The Scouting Ireland Chat Forum, not known for its freedom of debate or indeed meaningful conversations these days, nonetheless recently hosted a spirited exchange. This followed the furore at the associations National Council, surrounding the Meeting Chairman’s alleged assertion to the meeting, that a female youth member was being inaccurate in some comments she alleged the Chief Scout had made relating to the controversial ‘Vision 2020’ proposal a number of weeks beforehand.
Scout Honours
Adult awards as a concept may seem counter-intuitive in an association where volunteers seek only to serve the interests of their scout group, the community it is in and the members of it. Yet, an awards system is also arguably a valid and welcome method in which to recognize in a small way, the efforts that adult scouters go to in their spare time, to bring Scouting to the nation’s youth.
It’s an open secret however in Scouting Ireland for some time that the adult awards system is in need of review. It is secretive, unaccountable and the way it is currently calibrated, by and large favours only politically connected (and/or politically savvy) Scout Groups.
What next for Scouting Ireland’s Vision?
The decision, by the National Council of the Youth Organisation Scouting Ireland to reject in full, the ‘Vision 2020’ proposal, as put forward by the associations National Management Committee at this weekends annual National Council meeting in Cork, suggests a number of things about the current culture of leadership within the Scouting movement in Ireland.
Ten Years On….
Scouting Ireland was officially launched ten years ago today, on January 1st 2004.
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