Re: The advancement process in Scouting
Peter Farnham (pfarnham@ASBMB.FASEB.ORG)
Wed, 29 Nov 1995 11:31:50 EST
John,
I agree completely with you. I don't think we ought to be conducting
merit badge classes at troop meetings, and I am weaning my troop of
this habit. The scouts are supposed to contact a merit badge
counselor from a list maintained by the district or council, and make
appointments to get the required work done. The point of the merit
badge program is as much to teach the scout to make and keep
appointments, and develop working relationships with strangers, as it
is to learn the actual material he is studying.
There is a troop in my area that actually has a formal, written
program under which 21 merit badges are taught at troop meetings over
a three-year period, at the end of which time each kid who faithfully
attends and takes the classes will make Eagle. They even hold makeup
classes! This troop is a classic Eagle factory. About half the
scouts in this troop "earn" Eagle under this system in three
years--when the national figure for eagle attainment is about two
percent for all scouts.
This is a troop that has completely missed the point of scouts by
confusing a method of scouting (advancement) with the aims of
scouting, that is, to build character, citizenship, and personal
fitness. They equate not making Eagle with failing as a boy scout!
Anyway, don't get me started :<) ! I think you are right on the
money, though, with your concerns.
YiS,
Pete Farnham
SM, Troop 113
GW District, NCAC
Alexandria, VA
pfarnham@capaccess.org
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