From: R1SCM@VM1.CC.UAKRON.EDU (Dr. Steven C. Myers)
Subject: Re: BSA Advancement question
Organization: The University of Akron
Date: Sat, 29 Aug 1992 04:20:31 GMT

In article <1992Aug28.225329.9914@adobe.com>
choffman@adobe.com (Charles Hoffman) writes:
 
>As a Weblos leader I approached one of the local troops we feed to request
>a Den Chief.  I was given a boy, an alumni of our pack, who I was told was
>just about to receive his First Class rank.  This sounded fine.  My mind was
>filled with the vision of a Second Class scout.  It turned out that although
>the boy was as experienced as I had expected, he had not yet even earned the
>Tenderfoot rank.  Upon questioning him, I discovered that his troop allows
>the boys to work on all three ranks at the same time.  Indeed this scout was
>going to go from the Scout (is this a rank?) to First Class ranks without
>wearing any of the ranks in between.
>
>Now I may be showing my age here, but how could this happen?
>The Scoutmaster claims that this is per national guidelines.  Is this correct?
>
NO
"The requirements for Tenderfoot, Second Class, and First Class ranks
may be worked on simultaneously; however, these ranks must be earned
in sequence."
 
His eagle application had better show date(tenderfoot)<date(2nd class)
<date(1st class)!
 
Each rank requires (1) requirements which many be earned in any order,
(2) scout spirit for 2nd c. and 1st c. which should show improvement and
greater maturity, and (3) a board of review which must handle only
one rank at a time.  oops and a separate scoutmaster's conference for
each.
 
National guidelines recommends a monthly board of review so a month
is anticipated in between each rank.  the guidelines also recommends
a quarterly court of honor.  After the boy passes the BOR, he should
get his patch at the very next meeting.  Then at the Court of honor
he receives his card and perhaps a mother's pin.  Thus (and this
is the important part...) it is possible for a "scout" to advance to
First Class at a Court of honor in the following way:
 
June:  Court of Honor (not ready yet....)
July:  BOR for Tenderfoot  (badge presented next week)
August:  BOR for 2nd class ("     "          "   ""  )
September: BOH for 1st class  (badge held to court of honor BECAUSE
                                it is being held within a week or two)
SEPTEMBER:  Court of Honor
            Present three rank cards, present a first class mother's
            pin, and brag like "heck" on this kid.
 
This way everything is in order and if the kid sews, he can actually
experience wearing all three ranks.  (Or present him rank pins...)
If this kid does not wear the appropriate rank then where is his
scout spirit, proper uniforming, etc....  Catch that in the
scoutmaster's conference.
 
If you don't do it this way YOU RISK DOWNGRADING the importance
or rank advancement and the various ranks.
 
Note:  I review tenderfoots on scout spirit even though it is not there.
I tell them, next time I expect better....
In the 2nd Class SM conference, I evaluate scout spirit rather easily
In the 1st class SM conference I evaluate Scout spirit much harder.
Star ... life ... more expected ,,, EAGLE -- the most expectation.
 
If you don't follow the sequential earning of ranks you give up the
opportunity to mold the scout before they walk into a Eagle BOR
and fail to impress anyone with their Scout Spirit.
 
Enough said.  I want to write much more, but I am really strained...
 
Steve Myers
SM Troop 1, Eagle class of 68
 
>In the old days, there was a steady progression as the scouts ability to
>handle skills and responsibility increased.
>        Tenderfoot:     BSA basics
>        Second Class:   Hiking, basic first aid, basic cooking, etc.
>        First Class:    Camping, woodslore, more first aid, etc.
>        Star and above: Advanced individualized skills
>
STILL IS!!!  The latest revision is almost exactly restored to the
program of the 60s.
 
 
 
>My Webelos have noticed that the Den Chief wears no rank after more than
>eighteen months as a Boy Scout.  They were quite daunted at his explaination.
>They want to join his troop as of now, but this was a discouraging exchange.
>
>Any suggestions would be helpful.
>
This I can identify with.  My Webelos went into a troop that did not
receive us well.  Their advancement program resembles that of your
boy scout helper (Den Chief).  We are now split off into our own troop.
Be careful.  My assistant and I thought we could have a positive impact
on the troop and were wrong.  nearly every boy wanted to quit and 2 did.
We started a new troop to keep 7 boys in scouting!
 
Good luck.  For your Arrow of Light, be sure you look at more than one
troop!
 
Steve
 
 
 
 
>Charles Hoffman, Webelos Den Leader, Asst. Cubmaster, Pack 603
>choffman@adobe.com