Re: Assigning a Merit Badge Counselor
GMarmet@AOL.COM
Thu, 1 Jul 1999 10:07:21 EDT
One thought on this subject that I am sure is obvious to all but should be
restated. The Scoutmaster bears responsibility for the merit badge counselor
a Scout uses. That is, there are circumstances in which an SM may not wish a
boy to go to a certain counselor. The SM therefor edits the list of
available MBCs for the boy before the boy gets to pick. On a rare occassion,
an SM may wish that a boy see a specific MBC.
An example of the first situation is a MBC that an SM simply feels
uncomfortable sending a boy to- perhaps the SM believes the MBC is not
adequately prepared for the badge, or perhaps there are other factors.
The second situation is also easy to see. If a Scout has a special
situation, there may be a MBC better suited to the boy than any other. The
SM has the ability to steer the boy to that counselor.
My take on the situation is that a boy should have access to the entire list
of available counselors. The boy makes a choice, then asks for approval of
his choice by the SM. If the SM agrees, he signs the blue card; if he does
not, he counsels the Scout toward another MBC.
Yours in Scouting,
G. John Marmet
ASM Glenview IL
