Re: Confusion on MB changes
Bruce E. Cobern (bec@PIPELINE.COM)
Thu, 20 Aug 1998 12:49:07 -0400
> From: Anthony Mako <ajmako@nls.net>
> Date: Thursday, August 20, 1998 11:21 AM
>
> We've been trying to break them of the habit of thinking of the
requirements
> linearly, but it seems they get intimidated by the project and try to
put it
> off as long as possible. My discussions with the district advancement
> chairman last year left me with the impression that most of the "last
> minute" Eagles in our district waited until they had completed all of
the
> other requirements before they even started working on their project.
One of the things I do every fall, as advancement chairman, is conduct a
"Trail to Eagle" seminar for all Scouts in the district First Class or
above, and their parents and SM's. One of the things I emphasize is that
every Scout has at least 6 months to do a project and that he needs to
consider using all of it. You can usually go out and get most merit
badges in a couple of days if you have to. A project has a much longer
time frame. I also emphasize that there are approvals required and that
lack of planning (waiting until the last minute) on their part does NOT
constitute an emergency on my part requiring ANYONE to abandon procedures,
jump through hoops, etc. to make it happen. (We all DO, but I don't want
the Scouts to believe they are ENTITLED to that type of reaction.)
> Their argument was "if the Scout does the project and doesn't complete
all
> of the merit badges, he will have wasted his time." Of course, they also
> proposed assigning Life Scouts and Eagle Scout Advisor (someone from the
> advancement committee) who would advise them through ALL of the
> requirements; and then they announced that these advisors would be
> introduced to the Scout via a letter from the advancement chairman.
Gee, having a young man coordinate a project of benefit to church, school
or community is a "waste of time" if it can't be used to achieve Eagle?
Now why doesn't that sound right? I had a Scout who had applied for a
time extension. He wanted to do a project even before national ruled on
the extension application. Since I was virtually certain he would be
rejected, I tried to discourage him from starting the project. When we
met to approve the project I specifically asked him what would happen if
his application was rejected before the project was completed. His answer
was that he would complete the project. After all, service projects are
one of the things Scouts do, aren't they? I approved the project, he did
it, and national, as expected, rejected the extension request. Sounds
like some of the members of your DAC need some attitude adjustments.
>
> Don't get me wrong, they're some pretty smart guys on that committee who
had
> a noble cause. They wanted to make sure the standards were consistent
for
> all of the Scouts working on Eagle (there was a great deal of disparity
> between the various troops interpretation of the requirements). What
they
> realized, toward the end last year, is that almost everything they had
tried
> went against the advancement guidelines.
>
> This seems a bit unfair if you ask me. One of the requirements for Eagle
is
> "Earn a total of 21 merit badges." If I complete that requirement before
> 4/1, but don't have my BOR until 6/1, you're saying (or they're saying)
a
> requirement previously recognized as completed is no longer completed.
Well, we haven't seen the transition rules yet, but if the past is any
indication, that's the way they will be. The only possible flexibility,
which has ultimately been available in the past, would be if he had ALL
the requirements done under the old rules by 4/1, but the board was held
afterwards, he could still use the old requirements. But they have never
had a situation where you could complete some of the requirements under
the old rules while completing other requirements (like the project,
leadership, tenure) after the end of the transition period.
>
> Hypothetical: National changes the First Class swimming requirement and
> implements the change with the same effective dates and grandfather
period.
> Billy completes the current 1st Class swimming requirement long before
the
> new requirement's effective date. As the months go by, Billy keeps
himself
> busy completing Tenderfoot and Second Class ranks. Suddenly it is 4/1
and
> Billy hasn't had a 1st Class BOR. Does he now have to re-do the swimming
> requirement even though it had already been signed off? If not, what is
the
> difference between this requirement and the MB requirement for Eagle? If
so,
> how do we explain to a Scout who struggled to complete the requirement
that
> he's got to do it all over again?
Actually, since the swimming requirements are changing, with additional
items being added at both the Second and First Class levels, this is
likely to be exactly what happens. Unless this Scout can complete First
Class by 4/1 (or maybe even have his board by 4/1) he will have to meet
the NEW First Class swimming requirements, including the "Safety Afloat,"
inflation, and line rescues which, I believe, are being added to the First
Class swimming requirements. As I understand the BSA's traditional
transition position, if that Scout is Second Class on 4/1 he remains
Second Class, does not need to go back and complete any of the new or
revised requirements for either Tenderfoot or Second Class, but must
complete ALL of the NEW requirements for First Class. (Once again, we
won't see the transitional rules until they are released either in
Scouting and Boys' Life or are distributed to the executive staff next
week in Nashville. I am basing my comments on the four or five
transitions I have already been through.)
>
> I agree there is plenty of time, if you're working on Eagle right now,
or
> will be soon. What about those Scouts who have their Life BOR in
November or
> December?
A Scout who has his Life board in November or December will HAVE to have
met the current Life requirements and will have to meet the NEW Eagle
requirements. That would mean that if he already had Safety or Sports
they would no longer count as required badges for Eagle, that PF would be
required and that Hiking or Cycling could count as required unless he was
using Swimming as a required badge.
What about those Scouts who completed all of the MBs last year and
> will wake up in January realizing they've got seven months to finish
their
> Eagle?
Well, if he is already Life, and already has all of the merit badges he
needs for Eagle, then this can be his wakeup call. He should have no
problem completing the rest of his Eagle requirements in time to have his
board by 4/1. In fact, some have opined that the short transition period
was designed to send just such wakeup calls and to encourage those who
were languishing to get it done NOW. I don't buy that, but I'm sure there
will be a significant spike in the Eagle count between now and then.
I don't want to be the one who has to explain to any Scout that he
> has to do a requirement over for that reason.
My experience with these changes has always been that the YOUTH take them
in stride and just do what they have to do. It is the adults who turn
these things into major traumatic events. The making of Family Life was a
prime example. It is amazing how much heartache that created amongst the
adults, yet I heard virtually NO complaints, comments, etc. from the
YOUTH. This will be the same. The adults should just calm down and
inform the youth of the changes. They will deal with it easily. Specific
problems will get dealt with on a case by case basis.
Terry Howerton Sakima Group, Inc. SCOUTER Magazine Kansas City |
