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Guardian of the Gate by F. Darnall Daley Jr. (advancement chair for Area 6 of the Northeast Region).
Some of you appear to be standing guard at the gate. Like good guards you are not letting anyone pass who does not have the correct password. When someone appears at the gate who does not have the correct password, you send them away. The treasure that you believe you are guarding is the SACRED ADVANCEMENT REQUIREMENTS. You believe that you must guard the gate to make sure that no boy advances who has not only met the requirements but who has met the requirements 110%. Your watch word is, “We’ve gotten soft on the Boy Scout advancement.”
The problem is that you have gotten you orders wrong. You are guarding the wrong side of the gate. The treasure is not behind the gate but in front of it. The reassure is the character of the boys in our care. Your duty is not to prevent boys from passing through but to make sure as many boys as possible do pass through.
Advancement is a method, as tool if you will, that we use in Scouting. It is not an end in itself. The purpose of the advancement system is to build a boy’s confidence and self-esteem. A boy learns something new, he is tested in that skill, he is reviewed, and he is given advancement. Whenever possible the test should be a natural part of the unit’s program. For example, in the requirement is to cook a meal, the test should come when it’s time to eat at a regular unit outing. Remember that we are not authorized to either add to or subtract from any requirement. The review is to be a reflection on a boy’s experience in Scouting, not a retest. The advancement recognition must come as soon after the review as possible.
Some of you may have heard that advancement recognition can only be received once. I assure you that is not true. Recognition can be made many times and as often as possible. Advancement is to be positive reinforcement for a boy’s achievements. If done properly it will encourage a boy toward even more advancement and toward greater confidence in himself.
So get out in front of the gate where the treasure lies. Guard it no more. Become an advocate for our Scouts and provide the leadership that will help them through the gate. The world will be a better place tomorrow.
Speaking as a Scout who has gotten his Eagle 1 year ago, I know that I am most thankful for the Scouts and adults who were harder on me. I was passed on many requirements that I feel I did truly earn. On the other hand, I know I was passed on many requirements which I know I didn’t really know well enough.
If Scouts are passed on requirements that they don’t really know well, it may give confidence and self-esteem, but it is a false confidence and sets a precedent of low expectations. That will do the Scouts no good in the long run. Now, of course I’m not talking about having Nazi-like enforcement of impossibly perfect standards. I’m talking about when Scouts are passed for requirements they can barely stumble through, or ones they just copy the correct answers and forget about it the next day. Believe me, this happens a lot!
Scouting isn’t made to help boys be completely comfortable with where they are; it is made to to equip and encourage boys to strive to make themselves and the world around them better!
Self-esteem isn’t truly built by being patted on the back for mediocre effort; self-esteem is built by overcoming obstacles and accomplishing hard things that push you to the next level.
This guy’s advice is good advice… for the small handful of Scouters out there who oppressively stifle and discourage Scouts by imposing impossible standards.
The vast majority of Scouts and Scouters I’ve seen could use a different message: hold high expectations and help your Scouts accomplish them. Always shoot to do better in a positive way. Don’t let Scouts get ranks and badges they are apathetic about and don’t really earn. That don’t help the Scout at all and just cheapens the badge for everyone, especially the other Scouts who work hard to get the badge.
If you lower the standards to get as many Scouts over as possible, it does’t do anyone any real good. If you hold high standards and inspire and help Scouts to rise and meet them, then they will thank you for the rest of their life.
There’s no way to ‘cheapen the badge for everyone’ unless you measure your achievements against those of others. The requirements in Scouting are simple, uncomplicated things that any Scout can accomplish with some effort. You’ve correctly identified the balance – not to strict, nor too permissive – just read the requirement and do what it says.
Achievement in Scouting is not aimed simply a building self esteem, (although it will), it has higher aims. Real self esteem comes from knowing yourself, not listening to what others have to say about you. Your reflection that “I was passed on many requirements that I feel I did truly earn. On the other hand, I know I was passed on many requirements which I know I didn’t really know well enough.” is a good, honest assessment we could all make of ourselves no matter what our age. It shows you have character and drive, that you have the self-esteem required to be honest in the way you look at yourself.
It’s only been a year, but I trust you will continue to discover that being an Eagle Scout is much, much, more than a recognition of what you have done, but the character that resulted from having done it. It’s something that unfolds over decades. What the “Guardian at the Gate” says to me is that we can be distracted from the process by the pieces of the process, that we miss the forest for the trees sometimes.
Badge work requirements may be printed in black and white, but they’re printed on paper. Paper bends.
Nice post Clarke. I have some District Commissioners and District Committee members that need to read this!
SMJ