Re: Advancement to First Class vs. Merit Badges
Godbout, Marc (GodboutM@ANDOVERCONTROLS.COM)
Fri, 30 May 1997 14:55:59 -0400
By requiring First Class rank before being able to earn a merit badge,
you would be adding a requirement to the merit badge that doesn't exist.
This is against BSA policy. To keep everybody equal the policy is that
you may not add to nor subtract from the requirements of any merit
badge. However ... I supposed this can be loopholed by the Scoutmaster
not signing the card, essentially saying the boy is not approved to
study this badge. I don't do this, though. How can I say any boy is
"not ready" to earn the Collections, for instance, merit badge?
As for allowing requirements from the past to count towards merit badges
- that's up to the counselor. My personal opinion would be to re-test
because sometimes kids forget things and for some MB's, such as First
Aid, I would really like to make sure the boy knows the stuff. I would
go the other way around, though. If a boy has earned the First Aid
merit badge, then I would sign off the appropriate first aid advancement
requirements.
Our troop occasionally runs merit badge sessions for part of the troop
meeting. Our policy here is that the boys who have not yet earned First
Class should be working on that instead of working on the merit badge at
that particular time.
Marc Godbout
SM Troop 98
ASM Troop 412
Derry, NH
> ----------
> From: Kenneth Wheeler[SMTP:wheele1k@NCR.DISA.MIL]
> Subject: Advancement to First Class vs. Merit Badges
>
> I was wondering if anyone can shed some light on Troop policies
> or BSA
> policies on Advancement through First Class vs. Merit Badges.
>
> Background:
>
> A review of requirements for Tenderfoot through First Class, and
> some
> of the outdoor and preparedness oriented merit badges
> (orienteering,
> camping, first aid, swimming, etc) shows a great deal of overlap
> between requirements for the different area's. Our current adult
> leadership troop philosophy, not strongly held, is that multiple
> requirements can be met for the same event. I.E. demonstration
> of
> first aid skills for advancement in rank can be used to "sign
> off" a
> merit badge requirement provided the boy has "declared" for the
> merit
> badge and his MBC signs off on his achievement of the skill.
>
> I do not agree with this philosophy. My preference, recognizing
> that
> very few things in this life have no exceptions, would be to have
> work
> on merit badges start after attainment of First Class rank.
Terry Howerton Sakima Group, Inc. SCOUTER Magazine Kansas City |
