Re: Call for Eagle Questions!

I'd like to address the question of "raising eagles too early." We've
got a class of 13-year-old almost-eaglets is our troop. One boy has his
Life and three others will receive theirs within the next month or so.
They are also our SPL, ASPL, and two PLs. At least two of them could
conceivably receive their Eagle before their 14th birthdays and the other two
not long after. This seems awfully early to reach the pinnacle of scout
rank. We could possible have 8-10 Eagles at one time in our troop and affiliat
ed Explorer post, out of about 35-40 boys. This is not a boast, but something
I'm concerned about.

In contrast, I entered scouting back in the dark ages of 1951. At that time a
boy proceeded through the lower three ranks consecutively rather than
simlutaneously, and didn't begin working on merit badges until after he
received his First Class (we also had a signaling requirement, but that's
another story). Eagles were rare and very special, something only a truely
outstanding and dedicated Scout could achieve. I'm not just nostalgic
about "the good old days," but I wonder if we haven't lost something with
the accelerated program and the "every Scout can be an Eagle" philosophy that
I see more and more prevalent. Just something to ponder.
By the way, I didn't manage to make it--high school & girls & all that (sigh).

Lew Bowling, ASM
Troop 21, Lexington, KY

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