From: RRRLITHGOW@aol.com
Date: Tue Aug 06 2002 - 09:35:30 CDT
Usually I'm a lurker on this list but since John was looking for more
female opinions, I'll take that as an invitation to add my 2 cents, although
I don't think being female has anything to do with it. I've always felt that
when it comes to recognition, a person should always err on the side of the
scout. All of us have at least one hurtful memory from our childhood of an
adult that we feel was not fair to us. Some people will still feel the pain
when they talk about it as if it were yesterday. On the other hand, some of
us have met adults that showed us compassion, understanding, and inspired us
to reach further. Which adult do you want to be to your scouts?
Our job as scout leaders is to inspire and support young men to reach
as high as they can go, not to judge and criticize them. We are not
certifying them to perform surgery or work in nuclear plants. A scout that
doesn't complete something the same way his buddies did already knows that
he's not the same. He doesn't need an adult to make sure that it hurts more.
Let's remember that in scouting, you are only expected to do your personal
best and really only that person knows if they did. So why be their judge,
give them the patch.
As far as a scout not being prepared for a Philmont trek, maybe the
leaders need to review their shakedown program and make sure that it is
rigorous enough to help the scouts be prepared for the challenge. Most scouts
that are not ready will voluntarily remove themselves from the high adventure
plans if the shakedowns show them a true taste of what a high adventure is
like. That is far better than having an adult judge them unworthy of the
trip.
That's my 2 cents worth.
PS: The statement that some one made about scouting being a game comes
right out of training. The whole phrase is "Scouting is a game with a
purpose".
Reggie Lithgow
Northwest Suburban Council, IL
High Adventure Coordinator Troop 496
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