Eagle and Age
Jay L. Lenrow (jlenrow@LKHO.COM)
Wed, 30 Jun 1999 10:21:14 -0400
I have read with interest the various postings about the propriety of
boys earning Eagle at a young age. I felt that another point of view
was needed.
My father stopped after earning the rank of Life Scout in 1937, the year
he attended the first National Jamboree in Washington, D.C. I am an
Eagle Scout, Class of 1965, and I currently serve as Scoutmaster of
Troop 18, Owings Mills, MD, Vice Chairman for Administration of the
Arrowhead District, and Friends of Scouting Chairman of the Baltimore
Area Council. Most importantly, however, I am the father of a 13 year
old who has just attained the rank of Life Scout.
I have see many changes in the Scouting program, some good, some bad.
What I have never see is a boy whose fitness for rank rested solely on
his age. At this time, one of our Assistant Senior Patrol Leaders is a
young man of 12 who is a Life Scout with all of his Eagle merit badges
completed and who is working on his Eagle project. He also serves as
the OA Lodge Chapter Secretary. With the exception of a few high school
juniors and seniors, he is the most level headed, mature, responsible
scout in our troop. He is consistently the top vote getter among all
scouts in our troop whenever he runs for office BECAUSE HE DESERVES TO
BE. I was his Den Leader in Cub Scouts for 4 years, his Assistant
Scoutmaster for 2 years, and now his Scoutmaster. He is one of the best
Scouts I have ever seen and will probably complete his Eagle before he
turns 13 on December 28, 1999. On the other hand, we have some 16 year
old Life Scouts who are less mature and show far less promise as
leaders.
The moral is that you must always look to the individual! Age is less
of a factor than the personal maturity and leadership skills possessed
by the boy. Some boys are natural leaders and are drawn to leadership
positions. Others must be taught how to lead, while others may never
learn the lessons of leadership. Rigid rules are never the answer but
an honest and thoughtful measure of the character of the particular boy
is.
YIS,
Jay L. Lenrow
Eagle Class of 1965
