From: Mike Bingley (mbingley@telusplanet.net)
Date: Fri Jan 24 2003 - 11:16:08 CST
John well said.
Here is an alternate scenario for you though and a sad one.
The young man you ran into never made it back on the trail. His Scoutmaster
decides that little ³Johnny Scout² did not earn the Arrowhead and the other
scouts make sure to point this out to him over the next couple of weeks.
Come September, ³Johnny Scout² isnıt showing up to weekly meetings and heıs
a little bit bummed out about Scouting in general. Come November heıs out
of Scouting.
I think that a Scouterıs first responsibility is to take a good, long, hard
look at what is in the best interest of the young person in their charge.
If I kid did their best and met the challenge but, for some reason, they
didnıt do as well as others well the important thing is that they did
their best.
John and I have a lot in common apparently we both came of age on high
adventure trips because of exceptional and compassionate scout leaders.
Mine was a guy by the name of Bob Gayton who helped me grow up more in one
week of canoe tripping when I was 14 than I had in the 3 years before that.
He made a point of recognizing me for what I had accomplished. That moment
kept me in Scouting. Without it I know exactly where Iıd be today, which is
probably doing 5 to 10 in some minimum security prison that was the path I
was going down, though Bob didnıt know it at the time.
We all need to remember as scout leaders that we hold an incredible ability
to raise up or crush the spirits of the young people in our charge. That is
really important to remember.
Cheers
Bing
-- mbingley@scouts.ca Mike Bingley Council Field Executive Scouts Canada - Chinook Region 403-327-4647 888-321-4647 (Alberta and BC) Experience High Adventure in the Canadian Rockies with Scouts Canada http://www.chinook.scouts.ca/impeesa-x/ On 1/24/03 5:41 AM, "Johnlebl@aol.com" <Johnlebl@aol.com> wrote: > In a message dated 01/23/2003 6:21:25 PM Central Standard Time, > Txnscout@aol.com writes: > > >> If you did not earn it, why on earth would you want to wear it? Just my two >> cents worth...... > > > There are many ways to "earn" something. > > I personally believe it is a bit sanctimonious for me or anybody else for that > matter to judge whether someone earned the arrowhead or belt or neckerchief. > > Many people have never been to Philmont yet have earned the belt or > neckerchief. > > Let me give you an example. > > When my parents saw fit to allow me to go to Philmont at age 14 in 1959, they > did so out of their love for me and a desire for me to get to do the things I > wanted to do. I really wanted to go to Philmont. > > I still have and wear my 1959 issue arrowhead award which by the way was the > first year they were issued. > > As a token of my appreciation, I bought my dad a Philont leather belt and I > bought my mother the neckerchief which was in vogue at the time. It was > actually a square ladies white fringed scarf with the jumping bull on it. > > My dad wore the belt until it wore out. My mom wore the scarf proudly for > years and still has it. > > When going through my dads personel things after his death four years ago, > hanging in the back of his closet was the almost worn out Philmont belt. He > never threw it away. I now cherish that tattered and worn belt. > > I never gave it a thought that they did not earn those items because by all > standards they did even though they never got to even see Philmont. > > My parents ran a family business. The peak season was in the summer and they > never took a summer vacation. The business would not allow it. However they > saw to it that I got into a Scout troop in Port Arthur, Texas Scoutmastered by > the finest Scoutmaster in the area, Einar Hansen. He toalked m dad into > letting me go to Philmont. > > I think I have mentioned it before, but I have a photograph of him shaking > hands with Lord Baden Powell at a world jamboree. > > Each summer our troop took an extended trip in the Scout bus out West. On > those trips the world opened up to me. Philmont was just one of them. > > Yes, my parents never set foot on Philmont but they well earned the belt and > scarf. > > There are many ways to earn something. I promise you that many a kid that > comes off the trail for various reasons has earned their award much more than > some of the buffon advisors I have observed. > > Just don't be too quick to judge negatively. As a former teacher, I can > assure you that there are many ways to earn something. > > And on the other side of the coin, I have seen many mothers earn a sons Eagle > badge. Notice I did not write "Eagle Award". There is a difference. > > Let me give you another example. > > Last summer at Fish Camp, I had occasion to talk to a very small Scout. He > weighed all of probably 85 pounds. He was waiting for the next available > transportation to health lodge. He wsa suffering with stomach problems. His > pack was almost as big as he was. > > I never got his name and never learned if he made it back on the trail, but I > certainly hope that he also earned an arrowhead award last summer. > > It was just 44 years earlier that I was at that same location as a young > Scout. I was the smallest boy on the trek and about his same size. Many had > said I wouldn't make it, but make it I did. Philmont was a giant step for me > as it is for many today. > > I just hope he had an understanding advisor who awarded him his arrowhead > award no matter what the eventual outcome of his returning to the trail was. > > I saw a lot of myself in that small Scout this past summer. He was there > because he WANTED to be there. > > As he walked away, not only me but my daughter and her friend, a seasoned > Philmont veteran, expressed the hope that he could return to the trail so he > could "make it". Both those girls and I had a few tears of hope in our eyes. > > Compassion is a must for both advisors and fellow crew members alike. > > Who are we to judge? > > Just remember that. > > > John LeBlanc > Eagle Class of 1959 > Phirst Phil Ptrek 1959 > PhilTrek 2002 630H2 Trek 16 > My latest adventure was yesterday, > Today is not over yet! > > > ------------------------------------------------------- Scouting E-mail Discussion Lists @ usscouts.org Subscribe/Unsubscribe at http://usscouts.org/lists/ Listserv Commands at http://usscouts.org/lists/lc.asp ------------------------------------------------------- Send listserv commands to: listserv@troop47.com Send postings to: philmont@troop47.com List FAQ found at: http://usscouts.org/lists/faq.asp List Administrator: philmont_owner@troop47.com ------------------------------------------------------- As you gather around this virtual campfire with fellow Scouts and Scouters, do your best to be trustworthy, loyal, helpful, friendly, courteous, kind, obedient, cheerful, thrifty, brave, clean and reverent. -------------------------------------------------------
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