Bingo

I love the arts and sciences, in fact I listen to classical music. I have 2 daughters with Ms degrees amd a daughter and a wife with BS degrees. My son on the other hand was never very good with the scholastic stuff. Real smart kid with a good head on his shoulders but not much good with the scholastic stuff. When budget cuts hit the schools, to many times one of the first things that gets cut is the vo techs. and shop. At least that is the way it was around here. Now the demarcates are talking about free college. I personally like the fact that many of the merit badges are still about basic mechanical aptitude skills. Electricity, plumbing, home repair, painting ,auto repair.... More kids need to learn this stuff, even the ones going to college. That's what I call a well rounded education! Maybe the "T" should stand for TRADES. IMO we need to spend more time on the basics and trades. Give some of these kids a more basic and practical (trade) education and in a few years watch the crime rate fall. BTW, My Son is now a union carpenter.

Wait a minute, The boy is 15, Senior Patrol Leader, and life Scout working on Eagle and nobody in the troop likes him? Maybe it's me, but something doesn't seem to add up here. It is very rare that I see anyone younger that 16 pushing 17 working on Eagle. I sounds like the kid has done good so far. Have him call the Scout Master and you listen in. If that doesn't work go to one of the district executives for guidance. But If he wants to be an Eagle, Let him address the issues. I know I respect a kid that comes to me a lot more than I would if Mama Bear comes to me complaining. He's learning to be a man and a leader. Help him grow a backbone and stand up for he thinks is right. Encourage him! Stand behind him and give him guidance, but He is the one who wants to be an Eagle. Let him take the lead.

At the camp my Scout troop goes to for summer camp, Thursday night the mess hall is closed. The camp provides steak, corn and potatoes to be cooked in camp. On my way to camp I stopped and bought a $1 toilet brush. Thursday afternoon when the potatoes arrived I grabbed them and headed for the bath house where there is a laundry tub and running water. Some of my Scouts had a cooler they were filling with water to soak the corn. You should have seen the look in their eyes when I said. " Look at the cool potato brush someone left here at the bath house! All you have to do is push the potatoes through the hole and it cleans them real nice." Needless to say, the joke went on for quite a while with one of the other Scout Masters saying it's no big deal. The germs would be killed when you cook the potatoes in the fire. In due time we let out the secret that the brush was brand new and never used in a toilet but all the parents heard about it as they came to pick up their kids. Now That Was FUN!!!!!!

Stosh, we are on the same page. I just getting frustrated with some of the people in the troop trying to tell me I'm being to harsh when a kid that wants to be an Eagle, only knows a square knot and that is it. In the year and a half he has been in our troop he has only come to one camping trip and none of the Eagle projects. The last time he came in front of the committee to present his project for the 2nd time he stumbled all over the Scout law, had no idea what the slogan and motto were let alone the outdoor code. Now I have people telling me I can not retest his skills and he has been active enough in the troop. Don't get me wrong. I do like the kid and I've offered to help him on innumerable occasions. He's not a troublesome kid, But now, with 5 months left before his 18th birthday I've thrown in the towel. In my eyes he has done nothing to prove himself a leader, he has learned very little and has taught nothing to any other Scout. But again, I have people telling me I can't deny him his Eagle. Sometimes the best teacher is failure. I think this kid needs to learn that in order to succeed in life. He's had to many things handed to him like a participation trophy. Arrrrrrrgggggg This is why I asked " WHAT IS THE DEFINITION OF ACTIVE" I would like to have something to show these bleeding heart feel good types that you need to put something in to get something out.

I'm dyslexic and haven't read all the guidelines yet but I'm trying. Unfortunately, everything I've seen so far is, learn it, forget it and move on. It is all beginning to look like a participation trophy to me. A kids skills or lack thereof can not be retested. If the kid doesn't come to any of the troop outings, oh, well, I'm sure he had a reason. You still have to advance him, he came to 1/3 of the meetings and did nothing. That counts and you can't deny it. The troop I am in needs more structure and I'm trying to get the Scouts to take control of their troop. This hasn't been successful in the past but I am trying now. I'm just having a hard time with the feel good, politically correct, open ended subjective vague guidelines I read so far. From what I've read a board of review is nothing more than what was your favorite merit badge, what was your favorite trip, do you like it here, is this a nice easy way to skate through scouting. How is this politically correct, everyone gets a trophy nonsense going to teach a young man to try harder, to strive for excellence. to overcome adversity and stand proud of his accomplishments.

My troop is in the process of re writing the by laws. One of the qualifications for advancement is to be active in the troop. Ok, that being said, what is the official definition of "ACTIVE"

Eagle 90, My prayers are with you, the Family and your Scouts. Two years ago I lost one of my Scouts to an enlarged heart that with no warning. At the funeral, we couldn't find a bugler to play taps. After the ceremonies at the grave site one of my Scouts yelled "Circle Up!" We formed a circle with the break just of the corner of Mike's casket and sang the Scout Vespers. The Scout Masters voice cracked as he recited the Scout Masters Prayer. I was Mikes Eagle advisor and stood in his place as we finished the project he had designed. He got his Eagle Honors posthumously. I have a knot in my throat and a wet face as I type this reply. I know your pain. Prayers My Friend!

I've been in Scouting for about 15 years. I've helped a lot of Scouts get to the rank of Eagle. Unfortunately, one of them posthumously. The young man that attains the rank of Eagle should stand out a a leader and a man of character. This kids lack of attendance at meetings and Outings shows a lack of commitment to the Troop and a lack of interest in Scouting in general. Twice he has had a POR and did nothing in those positions. In his old troop, the boys wanted him removed. That is when he came to our Troop. We didn't know any of this until 4 months ago. I have tried to work with this kid to get him involved and moving. Originally, his project was to do some painting for his church. I used to be a painter and offered my assistance and expertise. It wasn't until last month when he showed up wanting a meeting with the committee and for us to approve his Eagle project. That is when I got irritated. The project that he has talked about for a year and a half was changed. He had no paperwork, Nothing from his beneficiary or the school, no plans for the trophy cases. But we got a nasty response from mommy when we told him what was required of him. SHE now wants us to rearrange our schedules to meet with him when he doesn't have band practice. It just seems to me that Eagle is becoming a participation trophy or in this case a lack of participation trophy. Oh, to clear up one more thing. I am the outdoors activity coordinator on the committee. I wear 4 Mentor pins and the boys and I have a lot of fun together. It may not show in this post, but I am a sixty year old nut that likes to have fun! In 15 years this is only the second time I thought a Scout did not diverse to become an Eagle. I know it looks good on a resume, but it needs to mean something.

This is the first time I have posted here but I need some guidance. I have a Scout that came to my troop about 2 years ago complaining his old Scout master wasn't being fair to him and was picking on him.(about 16 yrs old). He seemed to be a nice kid with a dominant mother. We greeted him into the troop and got to know him a bit. It seemed to me that he needed a confidence builder. The boys decided on a trip to Wright Patterson AFB for our June trip last year. I put this kid in charge of setting it up. He/ his mom did a great job. That is the last trip he has attended. I have approached him every time I saw him about his Eagle project and coming to more meetings. The Scout master has done the same. In that time he mentioned a painting project for the church he goes to. A month ago, he wanted to meet with the committee and present his Eagle project proposal. He had no paper work, no plans, just an idea. The plan he has requires a lot of cabinet grade wood working and permission for the School to install them. I don't see anyone in our troop with those skills and as school is out for the summer I don't see him getting school board approval before September. He turns 18 in December and I don't think his project is doable by then. he also wants the committee to meet with him when HIS band schedule permits. In addition, he has done nothing to help or lead the troop or the other Scouts. I don't think he has made 1/3 of the meetings and hasn't come to any of the outings including two Eagle projects. I know nothing of his outdoor skills and doubt if he could recite the Outdoor Code. Even if this kid manages to pull off the project he selected, I can not in good conscience pass him for Eagle. Now the problem. The committee passed a few e-mails around that were understood to be private. I've made my feeling known and there is a lady or two in the troop that don't agree with me. Those e-mails aren't private anymore. So i guess I'm going to get accused of being mean. I guess outdoor skills and leadership don't weigh in on their idea of what an Eagle should be. They think as long as he has the merit badges and does the project he should be able to get the rank and honor. I don't. In my eyes Eagle should stand for a lot more than that. The kid hasn't shown leadership, that's easy. But how do I convince the women that knowledge of the Scout Hand book and outdoor skills are essential to meeting the Requirements of Eagle. Their attitude is he learned that stuff once (when he was 1st. Class) he doesn't have to be tested on it again.

What happened at your Pack is unfortunate and inexcusable. The best way to rein a good time for the kids is to get the parents involved. The last thing my son and I did as he was crossing over to Boy Scouts was to build a NEW Pinewood Derby Track for the pack he was leaving. The design for the track was out of my head and the timer schematic and programing can be found at The Worlds least expensive Pinewood Derby Timer on Line. I can only suspect the parent didn't like the finish. This may help the Pack ovoid another irate Parent.

Keep talking guys I like what I am hearing and I am learning.

Up until now my troops Scout Master conferences have been a test of what the scout knew in relation to the rank the scout wanted to attain. We have been lenient with the young scouts and brutal on our Eagles. I have just read an article that says we are doing it wrong. That the Scout Master Conference is not to be a grueling test of what a scout has learned but a chance for us to get to know our scouts better. I like that idea! My Scouts often refer to me as the Assistant Fun Master.A title I proudly accept! OK so if my troop is to change the way we have conducted ourselves with regard to the rank advancement, how do you test the boy's knowledge and skills and assess his fitness for advancement? Or how to do an Eagle Scout Master Conference for that matter. Isn't an Eagle Scout suposed to know just about everything in the book?