From: Dalton, Lloyd P. (Lloyd.Dalton@UNISYS.COM)
Date: Mon May 08 2000 - 10:20:17 CDT
Paula,
In my opinion, first class in 4 or 5 months is going pretty fast. It can be
done, but not without some sacrifice. Most of our meetings have 1/2 hour
dedicated to advancement, and it works pretty smoothly. (unless the older
scouts forget to prepare ahead of time...)
But I hesitate to hold up a stop sign to enthusiastic parents--the troop
needs them to stay healthy. It's not wrong to want your sons to advance.
It's just wrong to dictate terms to the PLC. That should only be done (and
carefully) if the health and safety of a scout or the troop is in danger.
Failing to earn first class by july is not such an emergency.
Fontunately, it just so happens that a lot of those requirements can be
practiced at home, with a parent or just with a handbook. The scouts who
advance fastest are the ones who show up at meetings and say "Hey Mr.
Assistant Scoutmaster, watch me tie these three knots! Now listen as I
describe how to treat minor injuries!"
In my opinion, all parents who are enthusiastic about their son's
advancement should consider using the other 82 daylight hours of the week as
well as the 2 hours of each meeting to accomplish the goal.
And in all fairness, sometimes it is possible for a PLC to prefer "fun"
activities to "boring" requirements. The PLC should be able to ask
themselves: "Are we providing a good solid scouting program to all the
scouts in the troop?"
YIS,
Lloyd Dalton
SM, Troop 28
St. Cloud, MN
