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Re: Young Eagles
Richard Rose (rose@SCVNET.COM)
Tue, 29 Jun 1999 21:11:01 -0700
I have to agree with the Mikes. There is nothing in the requirements that
say a 13 year old is too young to be an Eagle Scout. Granted he is not as
mature as a 16 year old, but if he has EARNED IT, present it. I get real
disgusted when I hear of people (Advancement Chairs, Scoutmasters, etc) who
don't like young Ealges, and place roadblocks in their path. As has been
stated, we CANNOT add additional requirements to the ranks these boys are
earning, be it Tenderfoot, Bobcat, a Merit Badge, or Eagle Scout. The
rules are there, and we must follow them!!
My son earned his Eagle 4 months past his 13th birthday, and most people
believe that since my wife and I are so active in Scouting, that we helped
him or pushed him along. Not True. He did almost all of it on his own,
with loving encouragement along the way. I admit that near the end, with
just 2 required MB's to go, and partials done on both, I suggested (maybe a
little stronger) that finishing what he had started would be a good idea,
but other than that, I jsut sat back and watched, and never did any of the
work, or even saw much of it.
He is now working with his 2 best friends, both Life Scouts, encourageing
them towards Eagle, as well as attending Eagle Projects of other boys in the
Unit. He has earned 1 Palm, and is getting close to #2, and plans to work
hard at Summer Camp again this year, with a goal of another Palm by the end
of the year. Doesn't appear to be a Get Eagle and quit kid. As a young man
enters High School, the demands on hsi time increase, so that many of them
run out of steam and time, and struggle to finish, or just plain finish,
which is why only 4% of youth reach this lofty perch.
[Stepping off Soapbox]
Richard Rose
"I used to be a Fox...." WCS 41
"I used to be a Bear..." WEM 51 2 98
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