Re: Personal Fitness and Eagle requirements
Anthony J. Mako (ajmako@NLS.NET)
Sun, 7 Mar 1999 02:58:19 -0500
<Chuck Bramlet wrote>
The _real_ issue that I see here, is the one summed up in the words of
Yoda, that one of our list members has taken for a sig. "Do or do not.
There is no try." I am more than a bit concerned that we are gradually
taking an attitude that says that you _will_ meet these standards, and
no excuses excepted for not. Second best is still the "loser", whether
it's from 10, 100, 1K, 1 million.
</Chuck>
Chuck,
The real problem is that so many people have taken that phrase from Yoda
out of context. Yoda is a teacher attempting to teach a student a skill.
The student says "I'll try..." to which Yoda replies "Do or do not!
There is no try." When a student, or anyone else, says they'll try to do
something they are doing pretty much what we all do when we're not sure
of our abilities. B-P doesn't say "Try to do your best", he says "Do
your best." If you say "I'll try..." you're essentially saying "I'm not
sure I can do this so I'll give it a go; just don't expect too much."
Hardly the words of someone about to do his best. It provides him with
an out - "if I try and then fail, it will just confirm that I'm not any
good at this."
In Scouting we don't want Scouts to try light a cooking fire, or
whatever. We want them to light a cooking fire. Not lighting the fire
doesn't complete the requirement, and trying to light the fire leaves
the possibility of failure wide open. Trying and failing leads to "I
can't, I've tried..." Trying implies only one attempt before giving up;
doing implies as many attempts as it takes. Yes, it's a matter of
semantics, but it's also a matter of attitude.
Of course, you're right when you say that it also can lead one to a
"best isn't good enough" attitude. That is a result of the competitive,
"if you don't win you must have lost" culture. Those of us who have the
responsibility of overseeing the advancement process HAVE to remember
that the standard each Scout must meet depends mostly on the individual
Scout. We know the every Scout is not a gourmet chef, so there's no
reason to expect every Scout to perfectly and single-handedly cook a
seven-course gourmet meal over an open fire, Hibachi, or backpacker
stove.
Like you said, Chuck, we need to help the Scout build a bridge or find
another way across. Problem is, we should be behind him, encouraging him
to challenge himself, not across the chasm beckoning him forward.
YIS
Anthony J. Mako, ajmako@nls.net ,Scoutmaster, Troop 381
http://members.aol.com/Scouts381/ "Home of the Unofficial Boy Scout
Desktop Theme!"
Great Trail Council - Akron, Ohio
"I used to be an Eagle (C-7-97), but I'll always be an Eagle (1981)"
