roljers

Please, don't re-litigate it, I litigate for a living. But for us 12 year-old Eagles from 1965, please tell us what the issues were or are. I don't want to remain in the dark, but some of the things I see I don't like...feel free to change my mind...

No, it won't go away until it is explained to me ...I was a 12 year old Eagle Scout that had to obtain the lifesaving merit badge, not emergency preparedness. As explained, it was tough, real tough, and I did not pass it the first time. And, by the way, I am an attorney. So, I see the time limits have been changed since I was an 11 year old Tenderfoot...I understand it is possible to become an Eagle at eleven because the rules have changed, ...so, what was the problem? My issue remains, its easier to become an Eagle now without having to attain lifesaving...

1 hour ago, skeptic said:

Please, can we simply move on.  This will never go away for those of us closest to it, and few would question that it absolutely pushed every limit and bent every rule, to the point of local protests and National actually being involved.  It overwhelmed unit leaders and district volunteers, to the point of some throwing in the towel, and touched at least 6 units counting cubs.  Far too many mistakes and "just make it go away" issues, always with the subtle threat of a parent who is a lawyer and lived vicariously through his kids.  The Scout actually had lots of promise, and I am not sure that even he today, entering full adulthood very soon, will want to have a serious discussion of how badly this went down.  Even at the time, I know that he would not look me in the eye when it finally came to the end where the video shows.  I still harbor a little hope that he will at some point face this personal demon and find a way to feel actually good about it. 

Just about the classic example of adults taking the Scouting experience away from their children and then setting a very poor example as to how to circumvent or bend by ploys and threats.  I can assure you that those of us near, or peripheral to this not only took a lot of deep breaths,

But, as I said, let us not again beat this horse.  Thank you.

Thank you...what is the requirement for becoming a Tenderfoot in the Handbook?

this may be...I don't know about AOL....but I do know that we could not be a Boy Scout, therefore a tenderfoot, until we were 11..."To become a TENDERFOOT SCOUT, you must be at least 11 years of age..." page 34, BOY SCOUT HANDBOOK,  Seventh Edition1965, Boy Scouts of America.

14 minutes ago, Hawkwin said:

When was this? Care to elaborate? Considering the fact that such a person would violate not only the Eagle requirements but many/most of the previous rank requirements, I have to wonder not only about that troop but also the district that allowed such to proceed. Heck, the council would likely have to be complicit too.

Great to be here...

I guess I am an "Old School" Eagle Scout...1965...Only 1% of the Scouts were Eagles back then. Yes it was harder. You had to swim and you had to pass lifesaving and earn the lifesaving merit badge--no choices, no substitute of "emergency preparedness"...If you could not swim, you could not be an Eagle, ...if you could not jump in the water and face your own demise--your potential death--to save another human who was drowning--then you did not become an Eagle--Period, no debate. Sorry, that's the way it was. Simply put, its a lot easier to be an Eagle without facing a true life threatening situation. ..and I flunked lifesaving the first time at Camp Rotary in July of 1964. The next few months I worked hard at becoming a better swimmer and passed lifesaving with a lot of difficulty and no excuses...it was hard, very hard, but there was no way I was not going pass lifesaving and be prepared to do so into the future...and I'm still ready today, if necessary....and, by  the way, I saw someone became an Eagle at age 11, sorry, no way...it was impossible to become an Eagle at age 11--the time limits for each rank prohibited it.... and with all do respect, I have doubts as to an eleven year old being able to pass lifesaving--just too small...he could not cut it back then. I'm not saying that today's Eagles do not have the character necessary, but the standards have been lowered....and that is a shame....Now I see why 6% and not 1% of the Scouts are Eagles...