Age Requirement
Marie E. Lackore (LambeauLady@packerfans.org)
Fri Jun 19 13:30:49 1998
I have to comment on this post, as I just did research on age
requirements/grade level for post members.
Kathy wrote:
We have a High Adventure Post and we've had some discussion with the adults
on the age requirements. That is 14 and finished 8th grade. We have some
parents that want their children to join the post, but they are only 14 and
going into 8th grade. Some have been held back in school, others started
school late. We don't want to turn young people away, but we want to be fair
to those already in the post who are in high school. We are a
very active post that the young men and women run and do a very good job of
it. We do many activities, including Philmont next summer. Our council said
the age and grade
requirements were a gray area when applied in these situations. We'd like to
know what other groups have done about this.
Richard commented:
Our high adventure post is closely associated with our troop. We use grade
level rather than age to determine eligibility, as it keeps kids together
with their classmates in school. Those who have completed the
8th grade are eligible for the Venture patrol within the troop. Those who
have completed the 10th grade are eligible for the Post, and we have
participants ranging
from high school juniors to college freshmen. We have occasionally bent
the Post eligibility rule to accommodate special situations where a young
person would "fit" better in the Post than the Troop. Have rules, but stay
flexible.
I am commenting:
There is NO flexibility. There is NO gray area. The age/grade requirement
is that a youth MUST be 15 or 14 and have completed the eighth grade. If
your professionals are giving you information otherwise, they are giving you
inaccurate information. The joining requirements are very specific. Do not
fudge on dates to get someone into a Post. You are setting yourself up for
a potential lawsuit. Don't do it!
Furthermore, the computer will NOT accept anyone who is not aged 14. Let me
give you two examples:
My second son will turn 14 on September 7th of his eighth grade year. He
cannot join a Post until he completes his eighth grade year. Will the
computer accept him earlier? Yes. However, according to the requirement,
he may not join until the end of the school year. At that point, he will be
three months from his 15th birthday.
My daughter will turn 14 on August 29th of her Freshman year in high school.
At this time, she will be able to join the Post as she has completed the
eighth grade. Will the computer take her in June after she has completed
eighth grade? No, it will kick her back out because she will still be 13.
It will not accept her until she turns 14 even though she has completed the
eighth grade.
So...again....the requirement is:
1. Age 15....or....
2. Age 14 and have completed the eighth grade
These requirements exist for a reason. Do follow them.
Marie E. Lackore
LambeauLady@packerfans.org
Go Pack!
I used to be a bear......
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