Re: Academic Requirements for Jr. Leaders
Michael F. Bowman (mfbowman@CAP.GWU.EDU)
Thu, 8 Dec 1994 00:47:55 -0500
The Senior Patrol Leader (SPL) with failing grades may have found his only
refuge in Scouting. The grades may indicate any one of a number of
problems at home, school or personal. In most places, we shouldn't even
have access to that information. But assuming the Scout has made it known
or his parent(s), I'd counsel encouragement of what the Scout is excelling
at, which apparently is leadership in the eyes of his fellows. Perhaps a
word or two is needed with him and/or his parents to see how things are
going - that may explain a lot. It may be possible that by encouragement
here, other areas will show improvement too. Sometimes grades reflect as
much the student's self-concept as academic performance (I don't know
about this case). I can recall an SPL who was bored in school, had been
labelled by the School as "dumb" and whose grades only picked up when the
lad's self-worth increased in his own eyes as he took charge of the Troop.
His guidance counselor had even told him he should find a vocational
school, that college was a defininte NO. Wrong. That SPL went on to earn
a Bachelors, Masters and Doctors and even taught at a college for a while.
Speaking only for myself in the Scouting Spirit, Michael F Bowman
Used to be a Beaver, National Capital Area Council, B.S.A.
mfbowman@CAP.GWU.EDU (mfbowman@CAPACCESS.ORG after 12/13/94)
Terry Howerton Sakima Group, Inc. SCOUTER Magazine Kansas City |
