Re: Advancement Advice
Peter Farnham (pfarnham@CAPACCESS.ORG)
Sat, 5 Oct 1996 08:09:02 -0400
Ned,
First, I hope the dad in question is a registered counselor for all those
merit badges he's been signing his son off on. If he isn't, the son
could have a real problem somewhere along the line to Eagle--what if it
is discovered that several of the son's MBs were signed off by a
non-registered counselor? That can invalidate the MBs. Seriously.
That having been said, I don't have a problem with fathers signing their
sons off on requirements, or for MBs, for that matter, as long as they
are complying with troop and BSA policies. In our troop, ASMs, me (the
SM), the SPL, and the Troop Guide can sign off Tenderfoot through First
Class requirements. Registered MB counselors sign off on MBs. BSA
policy is that a parent can work with their son on MBs, as long as they
are properly registered and don't cut their son any slack. They're
supposed to treat all boys the same, in other words.
I can and do sign off my son's requirements as he advances to first
class, but other authorized people in the troop do, too. I do not
conduct SM conferences with him, though--my senior ASM does that. My son
is advancing pretty well--about half-way to first class and he's been in
about ten months--but several others in his class are at roughly the same
place. It is not a function of favoritism; it is a function of
participation. He only this past weekend missed his first troop
activity. This is the best participation record in the troop during the
past year.
The key issue, it seems to me, is--is the dad in question complying with
*your* troop policies regarding advancement? Is he complying with BSA's
policies regarding registration as a MB counselor? Is he treating all
boys equally? The guy clearly loves his son; I think perhaps a training
session on advancement, or a counseling session with the SM, done in a
friendly, non-confrontational way, would be the best way to handle this.
You don't want to discourage an enthusiastic kid, either.
Yis (I am now, currently, at the present time, a Beaver...WB 82-67)
Pete Farnham
SM, Troop 113
GW District, NCAC
Alexandria, VA
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