Academic Performance and Scouting.
Steve Hoar (shoar@INFINET.COM)
Mon, 22 Dec 1997 09:54:28 +0000
Thank God for scouting! In my grade and high school days I was a less
than stellar student. Many years I just barely scraped by and others
the promotion only came with summer school. Scouting was one place
where I could succeed and I did. After many years of hard work and
the help of many adults I did achieve Eagle.
In the troop we did not tie jobs to school. Jobs were elected and
appointed as appropriate and evaluation was based on performance.
When my scoutmaster made me JASM it was not because of my school work
but because of my scout work.
Even though my dad (now deceased and I still love him) and I had our
differences, he did not tie scouting and school together. He knew of
my struggles but he also knew that I needed someplace to succeed. He
knew what I would learn in scouting.
Later in life I did learn to carry the lessons and disciplines of scouting
into my personal and academic life. Once that lesson of scouting was
carried forward, everything I undertook was a gangbusters success. Thank you
dad, thank you scouting.
Now when I have a young guy in the troop who is struggling academically,
I do my best to try to make sure the parents do not punish poor school work
by taking away scouting. What we teach in the game of scouting may well be
the success that will help the young man in school and throughout his life.
Scouting is not like a treat to be passed out for doing good in school or
around the house. It is a place where the young man learns the tools and
skills he will need to do well in school, home, the community, and the rest
of his life.
Merry Christmas to all and to all a Good Night (in a warm sleeping bag)!
Stephen M. Hoar
shoar@infinet.com
Newark Ohio
Terry Howerton Sakima Group, Inc. SCOUTER Magazine Kansas City | 
