Merit Badge Irregularity
J. Hugh Sullivan (sull@MINDSPRING.COM)
Fri, 29 Aug 1997 09:39:28 -0500
dave livingston <dliving@MINN.NET> wrote:
>Sorry, but I have to disagree totally, all of these problems rest solely
>with the adult that did not do the job correctly as the merit badge
>counselor.
Shall we vote on it? 8-)
>I tested my 12 year old on this. I simply asked him if the requirement for
>a merit badge had a requirement to have another merit badge first, and you
>didn't have it, told the counselor that, and the counselor said it didn't
>matter, and you did all the other requirements, did you earn the badge. The
>answer was, "yes, I did all that was required by the counselor. The
>counselor knows what he is doing. "
My 15 year old grandson said "you told me that wasn't right". As I mentioned
on the newsgroup a few days ago, he asked me to buy him a moccasin kit so he
could complete Leatherwork - even though the blue card was signed at summer
camp! I gave myself a good grade for teaching responsibility.
It's difficult to discuss this type of problem when we use personal
anecdotes because any difference sounds like a slight when none was
intended. However, I think we need to encourage our progeny to perform up to
standard. Hearing "boy, was the MB easy - I only had to do half the stuff"
or "go to Counselor X - you only have to do a couple of the requirements"
does not play well on my old Victrola.
Performers got the merit raise from me - why not start teaching them now?
Hugh
Terry Howerton Sakima Group, Inc. SCOUTER Magazine Kansas City | 
