From: Barry_C_Runnels@MMACMAIL.JCCBI.GOV
Date: Tue Feb 15 2000 - 10:58:42 CST
>he apparently has no serious interest in Scouting other than it is a barier to
>getting his driver license.
>so, what do we do for this particular Scout while the adults are fixing the
>problem?
>
>Bob Taylor
Hi Bob, This situation has presented itself several times in our Troop. At some
point of frustration, I have a talk with the parents and explain how difficult
it was for a Scout to earn eagle when he is not interested in Scouting. Those
are hard words to chew for the parents of their future Eagles. I get with both
the scout and parents to work out a solution that we all find acceptable. In
each case the parents took away the drivers license requirement. However, the
boys attitude toward Scouting didn't change much. I think one Scout will get his
Eagle. The others are hanging around because we made a deal, but mentally,
they're gone. A couple of these families blame me, or really our program. They
want us to hand hold their son to Eagle. The want a program of receiving Eagle
by just showing up to meetings.
As a parent, we all have goals for our kids. It can be hard to motivate them
toward something we view important but they see only as our goals. My experience
as a parent, coach and Scout leader is each youth is different and has his own
goals or lack of goals.
As a Scoutmaster, anyone who knows me also knows that to me, Scouting is about
building men of character and leaders of integrity. Scouting is a program of
building self discipline and self confidence. Less than 5% of Scouts earn the
Eagle. My energy goes to building a program for the other 95%. Nowhere in the
Scoutmasters Handbook does it say "make more Eagles". Many adults look for
material evidence of success. But what about our two 16 year Life Scouts who
just planned and ran a wonderful JLT last week. Is that not success? Do we not
have bragging rights? What about the Star Scout who escorted one of our learning
disabled Scouts through some merit badges to help him towards advancement and
you should have seen our Scout run COH. What about our new Troop Guide program
we started last year. The Scouts saved a program that we adults struggled at.
Thankyou God for those wonderful young men. I am not a great of Scoutmaster, I
fall in a lot of areas or our program, but our Scouts make me look good. Isn't
that measurable success? At every meeting, every activity and campout, I look
to praise every Scout I come in contact with because it's so much fun. I truly
think Scouting should be where the Scout goes home saying "I like me when I am
with the Troop".
That's not say our program doesn't build Eagles, we have a bunch. If done
correctly, the Scout program does a great job of motivating the Scout to earn
the eagle, but most fall short none the less. My prayer is that the lessons
learned from such failures builds more character than if the eagle was earned.
For both the Scouts and the adults.
Don't miss out on the rewards of this wonderful program by focusing on the
Scouts who don't earn Eagle. Because more than any other youth program, Scouting
makes every boy a success story.
I love this Scouting Stuff.
Barry Runnels
Troop 386
Edmond OK
