Re: MB Counselor 5 Badge Limit?
(no name) ((no email))
Fri, 17 Nov 1995 08:13:23 -0700
Bill,
I know you asked for private responses, but we have seen much
mis-information on this topic. The answer to your question depends on how
they are implimenting this 5 badge limit.
If they are stating "You are limited to 5 badges period." This is contrary
to Naitonal policy. Someone needs to get out and read the Advancmen
Guidelines Book (sorry, I am at work and ever since they changed the name,
I cannot remember the exact name). In this book national policies are
stated about as clear at they can be stated. Something to the effect of
"There is no limit to the number of merit badges a counselor may teach."
Now, if they are saying; "To teach more than 5 merit badges you really
need to have good evidence that you are qualified to do this, because we
are going to verify this carefully." then they have a case. Merit badge
counselors are apporved by the Council Advancment Committee (or their
desinee). If I turn in a list of 10 badges to be a counselor for and
cannot support my knowledge in these ten areas, then they are justify not
approving me for some of them.
It is very important that who ever is dreaming up this 5 badge limit which
does not exist, be made aware of National's policy and be asked to remain
within that policy. The Eagle Award is a National Award, not a local
council award and we need to try and make the earning of it as consistent
as possible nation wide (ok, I am a dreamer at times).
What I tell my couselors is; I recommend you do not work with more than 5
or 6 different badges at a time. If you want to work with more, please be
sure you have the knowledge to do so because I will be checking when you
sign up to counsel a large number of merit badges. then I add, to please
keep in mind that one of the purposes of the merit badge program is have
the scout come in contact with adults with whom he is not familiar. By
having one or two people teaching all the merit badges to your scouts you
are defeating this objective. If I get it out this weekend, my merit badge
couselor training outline contains all the references to national
publications from which this discussion is pulled.
Please, make sure they have read and UNDERSTAND the book with national's
policies in it, before they go off and make their own. Also, they need to
keep in mind that EAGLE is National's award, not theirs. Unlike some of
the idtems Mile Waltom discussed yesterday, this item should have as much
consistency nationalwide as possible.
Chris Haggerty, District Advancement Chairman,
Cochise District, Catalina Council, Sierra Vista, Arizona
Instructor Trainer for Water Safety, American Red Cross, Ft Huachuca Station
INTERNET: CHAGGERTY@BPA.ARIZONA.EDU Bitnet: CHAGGERTY@ARIZBPA.BITNET
The requirements for Eagle are mostly trivial, any scout is capable. Doing
them is what is significant, because most people never finish what they start.
Terry Howerton Sakima Group, Inc. SCOUTER Magazine Kansas City | 
