Re: Alternate Rank Requirements

In a message dated 99-09-02 21:21:48 EDT, you write:

<< I am hoping I can call upon the collective wisdom of the list for help.
We have a young man in our Troop who has Spina Bifida, because of
factors relating to this condition he has not been on camp-outs and
won't do much of the physical requirements for the first 3 ranks. The
old Scoutmaster is moving and my Husband is now Scoutmaster and wants to
see if this young man qualifies for alternate requirements. We will be
giving the Council Advancement Committee the required paperwork,
however, he needs some suggestions for replacement requirements. Would
taking part in Hikes instead of Camp-outs work? He has gone on a 3 mile
hike with the Troop and did it but he was exausted and it was hard on
him. What about for the exercises for Tenderfoot? The swimming
requirements could also be a problem. Any suggestions would be
appreciated, the young man attends meetings regularly and seems to be
interested but won't give anyone a clue about what is going on and the
Old Scoutmaster didn't try to work with his family.

YIS,
Kristen Swank
Commttee Member Troop 379
Winnsboro TX
dswank@sat.net
>>

Kristen,

Alternative requirements are largely up to the troop committee to work out
inasmuch as you know the boy, his strengths and limitations, better than
others. As a Scoutmaster, my bottom line has always been this: Does the boy
do the very best he can to fulfill the requirement; does he give it 100% of
his effort? If he indeed he does, then I am not going to deny him that
credit. On the other hand, I won't allow anyone to "hide" behind a handicap;
i.e. to use it for an excuse for non-performance. The young man that you are
dealing with is by your description very motivated so probably won't fall
under this latter category. The most important thing I think is that he meets
the spirit of the requirement rather than try to measure up to what the other
Scouts need to do. Let him try what he can do and excuse the rest in terms of
the physical exercises for Tenderfoot and the same for swimming if necessary.
The hiking certainly qualifies for the non-meeting troop events requirements.
And he should go as far as he can with other requirements. Modify as needed,
but he should still have the challenge in front of him as all Scouts do.

Best of luck in this endeavor. It will be fun.

Fred Heilbrunn,
Scoutmaster, Troop 125
Mount Vernon, WA

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