Talk:Scoutmaster

Merge Leader (Scouting) into Scoutmaster
I think the merge should be the other way. Leader (Scouting) is covering all sections and is clearly expecting an article called Cubmaster. I suggest we merge Scoutmaster into Leader (Scouting), explain "Cubmaster" there to the same extent and have Scoutmaster and Cubmaster redirecting to Leader (Scouting). We might also move Leader (Scouting) to Adult Leader (Scouting). --Bduke 20:23, 27 January 2006 (UTC)


 * I'm up in the air about this. I do think there should probably be just one article on all people who do this volunteer job (as different as being a Scoutmaster is from being a Cubmaster, the details of the difference are probably only relevant to Scoutmasters and Cubmasters). The tough thing is what to call it.... Maybe Scouter is actually the best. If it turns out that after we add in all the varieties (not just SM and CM, but national differences, GSUSA leaders and folks who are not the lead in their unit) it might warrant breaking out into different articles. --Habap 20:38, 27 January 2006 (UTC)


 * Being a native speaker of german, my first translation of Pfadfinderführer into English is always Scoutmaster - and I feel I'm not the only one.
 * I think we should remember that we are contributing to an encyclopedia for everybody, not only for Scouts, so the title should be something people want to look up. Nobody will search for Leader (Scouting), but people may search for Scoutmaster ot Scouter.
 * Thus, I proposed Scoutmaster because it is the term used by the Founder. --jergen 21:37, 27 January 2006 (UTC)


 * Please check also the Wiki-links. Leader (Scouting) has nearly none (except this discussion) articles linking to it, Scouter has about 15 articles linking and Scoutmaster nearly 40. This is a strong evidence that Scoutmaster is still the most used of the three. --jergen 21:44, 27 January 2006 (UTC)
 * I have got no problem with this, but whatever we chose, I think we have to redirect Scoutmaster, Cubmaster, Scouter, Leader (Scouting), and maybe others to it. So, in a sense it does not matter. I think it is also likely to be true that outside the USA in english speaking countries the common useage is "Scout leader" and "Scoutmaster" is considered very archaic, even if people understand it. On further reflection I still prefer a more neutral term such as Adult Leader (Scouting) for the article, with all other terms being redirects to that. --Bduke 22:12, 27 January 2006 (UTC)
 * Support merging Scoutmaster into Adult Leader (Scouting)-- Adult leader is clearer, as Scouting relies heavily on youth leaders as well.  Scoutmaster, Cubmaster, etc. should redirect to this article so that it can be found by people looking up those terms.  --CannotResolveSymbol talk 03:52, 5 February 2006 (UTC)


 * Support Merge Scoutmaster into SCOUTERAs used in the USA, Scouter refers to ANY adult leader and Scoutmaster refers specifically to that job, the adult person in charge in charge of the program in a troop. So, therefore, all these jobs and articles fall under the term Scouter and hence an article named that. SCOUTER should be the parent article, with subsections for the Scout Leader jobs as needed. Rlevse 22:49, 27 January 2006 (UTC)


 * Support to merge Scoutmaster into Leader (Scouting). WOSM uses the word Leader rather than Scouter or Scoutmaster. (WOSM Link). It is easier to understand and in wikipedia it would be better to write in the international term rather than specific country.  -- HenryLi (Talk) 03:51, 28 January 2006 (UTC)


 * While you appear to be correct Henry, I can't imagine someone coming to Wikipedia and looking up Leader (Scouting). We'll have to help them by having redirects from every term people might use. At least if we use Scouter, we have one redirect less and one that still has some meaning.

--Habap 22:05, 30 January 2006 (UTC)

Scoutmaster vs. Scout Leader
Since this term is in use in it own right in the Boy Scouts of America, but has been replaced by other terms in quite a few other countries, I have moved the generic content onto the Scout Leader page, which was previously called Leader (Scouting). The Scoutmaster page is now specifically about the BSA Scoutmaster rank, with a section about the historic use of the term elsewhere.

I think this is more effective than merging the two articles, because it would be wrong to put Scout Leader into, whereas Scoutmaster fits there correctly. Zaian 18:19, 27 March 2006 (UTC)