School boys survival kit-what went wrong ?

[Thomas Linton]

Okay, I need docs for this. I know our pack and troop do pocket knives, and axe and saw. Our pack leader, at least, is fairly certian that fixed blades aren't allowed for the boys. (He's stated that that's malleable if the PARENT of a given child is present, it'd be stupid to tell me that leif can't take his camp kitchen knife, for example- but if I'm NOT present, follow the pack rules. Similar logic is the only way we can reasonably do kayaking on the lake and swimming and such.)

I think this is very on topic for the forum, but if the mods don't, I wouldn't mind a sticky scouting discussion in the koyote knives forum)

Let me save you some time. You will not find "docs" where knives of any kind are banned by national BSA policy. Don't exist. This has been discussed here before.

The general BSA statement on the subject is in the Boy Scout Handbook indexed under "tools" [:thumbup:]: "The Boy Scouts of America does not encourage the use of large sheath knives. They can be heavy and awkward to carry and are unnecessary for most camp chores." (p. 403, 12th ed.)

The "Guide to safe Scouting" says, in substance, the same.

Because I may assume there is some command of English at National Council, BSA, the clear implication is that sheath knives that are not "large" are OK with BSA. Nothing is banned.

Those facts have not stopped units and local Councils from purportedly banning fixed-blade knives. The rationales, if they have one at all, is "safety" or "BSA policy." The latter is clearly incorrect and the former is illogical for an organization that seeks to teach youth safe tool use. And, as noted, every Council with such a "ban" that I have investigated (13 thus far) sells fixed-blade knives and does not seem to notice their use in cooking or wood-carving. Of course, the banners have no "safety" issue with axes of all sizes and weights. Ignorance seems to be a requirement for banners.

OVERTLY ON-TOPIC CONTENT: Meanwhile, as I have pointed out, two official BSA publications on wilderness and survival discuss and illustrate use of khukuries and one discusses and illustrates bolos, and machetes as well. The books are "The Complete Wilderness Training Manual" and "Survival Handbook" Essential Skills for Outdoor Adventure."

Repeat after me: "BSA sells knives and encourages the safe use of knives by Scouts, Varsity Scouts, and Venturers."

 

[zen_grasshopper]

I graduated from high school in 1998 from a high school in South Dakota's largest city (pop roughly 124k). All 4 years I attended school with a Spyderco Endura clipped to my pocket. I wasn't supposed to have it, and teachers were not supposed to have them either. Only once did anybody comment on it.

I was in band class and the assistant band director was trying to open up some boxes with her SAK. It was so dull that the back side of the blade was probably sharper. I noticed that she was having difficulty so I whipped out the Endura and in one motion sliced the tape. She looked up at me with a strange look in her eye as I was folding it back up and I said, "Since you are not supposed to have one either, I won't tell if you won't!" She must not have.

It was stupid for me to do so, as I could have been expelled, but I was kind of a pain in the ass and didn't really care.

Jon

 

[guzzi2000]

I substitute teach and watch the kids at lunch time spread peanut butter with the ends of their forks.

 

[JCaswell]

Man, things have changed. It's a difference country for sure!

I asked, and got permission, to bring my .22 mag pistol and fire it on campus when I was in Jr. High back in '82. --In So. California!

My pistol had a 9.5-inch barrel and a scope and I couldn't sight it in, so I asked the shop teacher if I could bring it in to clamp the long barrel in the padded wood vice in the shop, shoot a home-made bullet catcher placed at the other end of the long shop, mark where the bullet struck and sight in off that.
He said it was OK with him if the Principle said it was OK. I asked and it was, as long as this was done after school hours and the gun was stored in his office until that time. So, on the appointed day, I did the couple mile walk to school with a plastic gun case with the pistol and box of ammo, dropped it off in the morning, picked it up when the bell rang at the end of the day, did my thing and walked it all back home. No problems.

Different world!

 

[Todd Murphy]

Kids get a mandatory suspension now if they even draw a picture of a knife.

Unbelievable!

 

[mblackfu]

we made knives and nunchucku's in shop class. we only got in trouble when we carved names in the wooden desks. when the ten commandments left schools, so did knives. I am so tired of sheeple!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

[tesselata]

I was born in 1972,
since my 8th birthday or so i carried a pocket knife.
everytime
not whilst swimming and sleeping but the rest of the time.
Yes, in church, yes in school (in the ´80 s)
as a teen I always carried a fixed5-6 in) on my belt.
Not in school, cause I had my folder, and :yes, in the shopping streets downtown, too.
I´never had any trouble about this.
Telling this my son now, he thinks i came fom another Time , kinda Huck Fin,
" what ? a knife and no Phone ??"
strange world strange world

 

[angle iron]

I carried one from second grade on, made and replaced handles in shop and sharpened other peoples throughout HS, never even got noticed and never had to ask either. What a shame!

 

[Toucan Oasis]

I graduated from high school in 1998 from a high school in South Dakota's largest city (pop roughly 124k). All 4 years I attended school with a Spyderco Endura clipped to my pocket. I wasn't supposed to have it, and teachers were not supposed to have them either. Only once did anybody comment on it.

I was in band class and the assistant band director was trying to open up some boxes with her SAK. It was so dull that the back side of the blade was probably sharper. I noticed that she was having difficulty so I whipped out the Endura and in one motion sliced the tape. She looked up at me with a strange look in her eye as I was folding it back up and I said, "Since you are not supposed to have one either, I won't tell if you won't!" She must not have.

It was stupid for me to do so, as I could have been expelled, but I was kind of a pain in the ass and didn't really care.

Jon

Nothing wrong with being expelled.
You'd get to attend reality outside of the brainwashing chambers........

 

[Bushman5]

amen to that! thank god i got to go to a real school when i grew up, before the education system went to crap....

 

[hwpaintballer]

There's still some decent teachers out there (senior in HS), here is a post I made on a similar subject in another forum,

"On Friday while taking notes I pulled a pencil out of my pocket and discovered the tip was broke, my teacher just happened to be walking beside me when he saw the look on my face, he asked if I wanted another one, and I said no I'll go sharpen it and I ended up complaining about how a pocket knife doesn't leave it with as fragile of a tip. Next thing I know he asks for the pencil so I give it to him, and he pulls out his pocket knife, black bladed folder with serrations about the size of a blur, and begins sharpening it for me in a crowded room of students, and then when someone commented on how sharp it was he said, "A country boy doesn't carry a dull knife, if it don't shave you it ain't sharp".

Great teacher, and great guy :thumbup:

 

[Miasma]

I graduated high school in 2008. for two three years prior, I had a leatherman micra on me (with my car keys) and a smaller SAK with just the nailfile, blade, scissors. I once brought out the small SAK and was whittling a pencil sharp. All the teacher told me was to put it away.

The SOG Seal pup in the glovebox in my car, well, that would have turned a few policemen's heads.

It's stowed there quite often. Mates have warned me about it though... one of them was pulled over, had his car and person searched and cuffed for having a SAK in the glovebox. he was 16. Seeing as he didn't have a lawyer to call, his dad had a talk with the cop and he let it go.

Still, I try keep any knives that are in the car, in the tool kit in the boot, or in a well used fishing tackle box.