Re: MB Program Q's
Alpvalsys@AOL.COM
Mon, 8 Mar 1999 23:24:07 EST
In a message dated 99-03-08 18:15:23 EST, Anita H. wrote:
<< I'm the mother of a Star scout in a smallish troop (about 30 boys). >>
Anita,
B-P himself said the "ideal" troop would be 32 boys. And I deal with two
troops
(one as commissioner, one as MC), both of which have fewer than 20 boys. Your
son's troop is not "smallish."
(snip) << 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? >>
It's nice to see that any of them decided to work on the MB; I've seen
several Scouts go on ski trips (went x-country once myself) and no one made
any attempt
to earn the MB.
(snip) << Usually, this troop leaves the matter of merit badges completely up
to the boys.... >>
Good! That's the way it's supposed to be. Except that the SM has to give
the boys a list of MB counselors. He is doing that, isn't he?
(snip) << What IS the typical amount of badges awarded at a CoH? >>
There is no "typical" number of MBs awarded at any CoH. But, if the boys
aren't earning MBs and advancing, what's keeping them in the troop? Is the
program good enough to keep them interested in Scouting without advancement?
(snip) << ...does the MB counselor sort of "apprentice" him to learn what he
needs to know? 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? >>
It's expected that the boy will have some personal desire to earn a
particular MB other than the required ones. This being the case, he should
already have some of the tools or knowledge required to work on the MB. The
counselor is certainly not expected to run a school for a boy.
I hope this is of some use to your son. May he someday soar as an Eagle.
Ralph V. Balfoort, Unit Commissioner
Albany, NY
I used to be a Beaver.... (NE III-135)
In the Beaver Patrol as a Scout, too,
and now Ktemaque (Beaver) Chapter,
Haudenosaunee Lodge #19, OA
