Re: MB Program Q's
(no name) ((no email))
Tue, 9 Mar 1999 02:59:56 -0600
Anita H. <anitah@slip.net> wrote and asked:
>I'm the mother of a Star scout in a smallish troop (about 30
>boys). I've noticed at the Courts of Honor that very few merit
>badges are ever awarded, and it's raised questions in my mind
>about how the MB program is supposed to work.
Okay, Anita. Here's how the Merit Badge program is supposed to
work:
First, EACH SCOUT DECIDES ON WHICH MERIT BADGES HE WILL EARN AND
THE ORDER IN WHICH HE WILL EARN THEM IN. There's no rule that says
for instance, that "in order for him to become a Star Scout, he
must have earned the Environmental Science, First Aid, and Camping
Merit Badges." Each Scout decides which required and non-required
merit badges he is to earn keeping in mind that to earn Star, Life
and Eagle Scout, that X number of merit badges are required for
each rank.
Second, SCOUTS WORK INDIVIDUALLY ON MERIT BADGES AND ARE EVALUATED
INDIVIDUALLY ON THE DEGREE OF COMPLETION OF THOSE MERIT BADGES.
While many Troops will have "merit badge classes" or sessions, the
gist of the deal is that each Scout works on the merit badge and is
evaluated by the Merit Badge counsellor assigned to work with them
on the badge. Some Scouts even in a group session may decide that
"this isn't the badge I want to earn" and there's nothing wrong
with this.
Finally, MERIT BADGES ARE DIFFERENT FROM CUB SCOUTING (WEBELOS)
ADVANCEMENT AS IT IS HIGHLY DEPENDENT UPON A ONE-TO-TWO
RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN THE COUNSELLOR AND THE SCOUTS EARNING THE
BADGES. In the WEBELOS Cub Scout program, the activity badges are
earned by work at home and during the weekly Den meetings. In the
Boy Scouting program, the merit badge work is done with the
counsellor or by the Scout on his own, and in most cases, away from
home or family. This is important because it builds self-reliance
and self-confidence on the part of the Scout and introduces him to
other adults outside of the Troop's leaders and his parents.
To answer your specific questions:
>Is it typical, for instance, when 17 boys go on a ski trip, for
>only 2 of them to decide to work on the merit badge?
Remember that Scouts attend outdoor activities not so much for the
"badges" but rather for the "experience" (and if there's a "badge"
involved, they MAY or MAY NOT be motivated enough to earn it)!!
Two of 17 is a GREAT success story....what would be much better, is
knowing how many Scouts went out on the slopes and actually WENT
DOWN THE SLOPES!
>Usually, this troop leaves the matter of merit badges completely
>up to the boys - there is nothing adult-initiated, they don't work
>on badges at meetings, and no classes or midways are ever offered.
>Is this the standard procedure?
It should be, Anita, and that's the way it works in many Troops,
especially older ones with well-established policies.
>Because the result, at least in this troop, is that it's rare
>indeed for a boy to earn ANY badges, outside of the ones he does
>at summer camp.
This is a matter of motivating the Scouts toward earning the merit
badges instead of waiting for summer camp or some other special
event to motivate them for you. Many Troops suffer this problem,
and it usually goes away when the next Eagle Scout comes around
from your Troop!!
>The troop's one Eagle Scout had to rush like mad to finish up his
>requirements, earning something like 10 different badges at the
>last minute. What IS the typical amount of badges awarded at a
>CoH?
Depends on several factors, Anita. It depends on the number of
Scouts, the influnce of the parents, the influnce of the peered
Scouts, and which merit badges are being earned. Also it depends
upon the motivation of those Scouts toward getting to Eagle. There
are many variables in there; so I can't give even a ballpark figure
on the "average number of merit badges awarded at a Court of
Honor."
>A separate but related question - how does a boy earn a
>special-tools-required badge like auto mechanics or plumbing? Is
>he expected to fulfill all the requirements at home, or does the
>MB counselor sort of "apprentice" him to learn what he needs to
>know?
The Scout works closely with the counsellor and learns the skills
neccessary to earn the badge. It's not just a matter of
"parrotting" the counsellor, but rather the counsellor sharing his
or her skills and knowledge with the Scout, many times over what is
required to earn the badge.
>I guess the same question could be asked of specialized-knowledge
>badges. Does someone teach the boy, or is he expected to learn on
>his own?
A little of both, actually, Anita. Many of the merit badges
require some "book knowledge", application of that knowledge, and
some skills knowledge. The Counsellor "works with and coaches the
Scout" but the Scout learns the skills...
Hope this all helps!!!
Settummanque!
(c) 1999 Mike Walton ("no such thing as strong coffee,...") blkeagle@mninter.net
http://www.mninter.net/~blkeagle Burnsville, MN 55306-7130 (612) 435-3068
privately at kyblkeagle@aol.com or waltonmi@usarc-emh2.army.mil
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