Re: WARNING: First Class in One Year may lead to Weak Eagles (lo
NeilLup (NeilLup@AOL.COM)
Sat, 20 Dec 1997 21:20:53 -0500
In a message dated 12/20/97 9:10:14 AM, bob_taschler@PUBLICITAS-USA.COM wrote:
<<The logic of the First Class in a Year program was explained to me as
follows:
Since most boys who become Eagles earned their First Class in their first year
of joining a Troop, the more boys who attain First Class in a year, the more
Eagles we will have. >>
Hello,
I can state with almost certainty that this is NOT the reason for the First
Class emphasis program. "National" really does not care that much whether
many or few boys make Eagle. They are much more concerned with the quality of
advancement and the quality of the program.
The reason for the First Class emphasis program was that it was shown that
those boys who earn First Class tend to remain members much longer than those
who do not make First Class. And National does care that boys have the
opportunity to participate as members for as long as possible. The reasoning
was that if boys have a good early advancement experience, they will stay
longer in the movement.
The other reason was that in many eyes, we have almost a binary advancement
system: Eagle and "Not Eagle." The hope is that by creating a strong,
highly rewarded advancement step before Eagle, we place less overwhelming
emphasis on the Eagle award.
I believe that National trusted units to have appropriate advancement programs
at the Star Scout and Life Scout level so that if boys need to have a broader
experience before being considered for the Eagle, the units can arrange it and
councils and districts can train units and leaders to make advancement
appropriate.
Neil Lupton
Terry Howerton Sakima Group, Inc. SCOUTER Magazine Kansas City | 
