I have spent about 45 years working with Jr. Hi and High school kids. Part
of that time, I taught Physics at three different high schools. You'd think
that I would have a pretty good insight about what makes kids tick but I was
not able to get either my kids or grandkids interested in getting a license.
I was also a Cub Master and Scoutmaster and I think this should be the way
to get kids interested. Scouts have a merit badge that includes radio info
so I think that it should be approached at that level. (You can be a Boy
Scout in the fifth grade) (or about 11 years old) I got interested when I
was in the 6th grade over 50 years ago. Get a charismatic fellow to teach
the info for the merit badge and include the process to get a license. ARRL
should make it a priority to support Boys Scout groups who teach the Radio
Merit badge. They should have a curriculum for scout troops that aren't used
to teaching to match the requirements of the radio badge. Clubs in a certain
area should get a list of active Scout Troops and their scout master. Have a
committee that is responsible for providing the lessons and helping with the
test...and support. The contacts could support a local school and ask the
principal if they could use a classroom after school for the class....that
way the kids are already there.
If you want the schools to be involved, you should pick folks that are both
hams and teachers. Remember, teachers are under tremendous pressure in most
states to "teach to some test or another" and ham radio is not on the test.
Bill W5VX
-----Original Message-----
From: CQ-Contest [mailto:cq-contest-bounces@contesting.com] On Behalf Of
Charles Harpole
Sent: Friday, May 24, 2013 11:42 PM
To: CQ-Contest Reflector
Subject: [CQ-Contest] recruiting yourth methods
Ask 4th grade teachers. They will tell u have to get 'em at abt 9 yrs of
age now days. The appeal has to be their basic wants/needs which are
-Strong desire to join an exclusive group -have a secret language or code
for the group -Strong desire to feel grown up and in charge of self with
personal power.
(Why are all those super heros so favored?)
This fits ham radio exactly.
Exclusive group... that certainly is ham radio and hams welcome all ages.
Secret language... oh do we have a secret language or even two, QSL? or
--.- ... .-..
A kid can talk to anyone as an equal from Nobel winners to his buddy down
the road.
Who could be more "in control" than the kid AT THE CONTROLS of a radio?
Eleven is too late. If ARRL could think younger than their 60 yrs, they
would have gotten sponsors to build a GAME HAM BOY and have local clubs hand
them out.
No kid wants to sit too long with and oldster... give him a GAME HAM BOY to
learn the secret language ... and Hey Martti and others in cell phones....
PUT CW ON THE MSG FUNCTION... faster than thumbs.
But, a group of gray hairs bitching abt no one to work is both true and not
near the way to reach youngsters.
Talk to elementary grade teachers.
73, Charly
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