Re: Uniform Costs
Amick Robert (amick@SPOT.COLORADO.EDU)
Wed, 4 Sep 1996 18:18:19 -0600
On Sun, 1 Sep 1996, Ian N Ford wrote:
>
> OK, you lose a few marginal kids, but the really motivated Scouts can see
> that the troop means business. Youngsters need to choose between priorities,
> and if it is always Scouting that backs down the Scouts are the losers.
Those "marginal kids" might be the very
ones that need Scouting the most. Is there not a more positive way to
encourage/help them to have the best of both worlds? You have to
remember that athletics and other events are very important to young
folks as well, and if forced to "choose" sometimes they choose athletics
over Scouting. The point is why make them "choose" in the first place.
Life is based on compromise and negotiation. Often there are ways to
accomodate both, and still allow the Scouts to continue in the program
and with advancement.
It is my experience with a number of Scouts who were also fine athletes,
or in band, etc., that when their season was done, they often came back
to the unit and were very active and in fact were some of our best
Scouts. Many of these made Eagle, served as outstanding leaders, and now
have college athletic scholarships as well as being honor students.
With a few exceptions, Scouts are not committed to an athletic/band
program with heavy time constraints for more than a few months during the
school year. There are of course a rare few who participate in almost all
sports, so have a nearly year around committment. But we have been able
to even accomodate some of them, and they were still able to obtain their
Eagle and to serve in leadership capacities.
Had we been "hardnosed"
about their involvement, they would simply have
dropped out. What a terrible alternative; fortunately, they were
never placed in that position...so it was a "win-win" situation for
Scouting and for their athletic/musical careers/interests..
The uniform is important, and to the degree that it can be provided for
all Scouts, especially those in need, so it should be. But the uniform is
not the ultimate objective of Scouting; As envisioned by the founders,
Scouting was conceived to provide an
environment in which young adults grow both physically and mentally in the
principles of the Scout Oath and Law, to become outstanding and creative
individuals, responsible citizens and loving parents for their own
children... and hopefully future leaders of Scouts of the future.
Bob Amick, Explorer Advisor, High Adventure Explorer Post 72, Boulder, CO
>
> I've been to parents meeting where the Committee tried to plan camping
> trips around sports, the eighth grade field trip, the band concert ...
> no, sorry ... We plan our program, the sports teacher plans his, the
> bandmaster plans his. Then the Scouts define their priorities. And if
> that means that Johnny can't advance because every night and weekend is
> taken up with sports, band and additional classes then that is his choice.
>
> Let's not sell ourselves short, folks ...
>
> Ian Ford
>
Terry Howerton Sakima Group, Inc. SCOUTER Magazine Kansas City |
