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How does Scout advancement achieve the main aim of Scouting?
Todays talk about advancement continues our foundations series. I’ve written extensively in detail about many aspects of Scout advancement, but this is different. In this podcast I ask how Scout advancement fits into the overall game of Scouting.
You’ll hear me read from Baden-Powell’s Aids to Scoutmastership –
If once we make Scouting into a formal scheme of serious instruction in efficiency, we miss the whole point and value of Scout training, and we trench on the work of the schools without the trained experts for carrying it out. We want to get all our boys along through cheery self-development from within and not through the imposition of formal instruction from without.
But the object of the Badge System in Scouting is also to give the Scoutmaster an instrument by which he can stimulate keenness on the part of every and any boy to take up hobbies that can be helpful in forming his character or developing his skill.
“Cheery self development” is all about building character, but if we aren’t specific in our aims Scout advancement can become anything but cheery.
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Podcast Notes
Baden-Powell’s thoughts on advancement “Proficiency Badges”
Happy Wanderer Opening Music
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In reference to merit badges, what are your thoughts about using what the scouts do in school as credit for merit badges. Example scout are required to take a government class in school, if the curriculm covers some of the requirements for Citizenship in the Community can it be used to sign off that requirement?
Those kinds of decisions are up to the merit badge counselor working with the individual Scout. Like I said, “none of my business” it’s not up to me as a Scoutmaster to make decisions like this or to be involved in that part of the badge process.
I can imagine counselors who would be fine with this sort of thing, and counselors who would not. Merit badge work is not fulfilled according to a universally set standard, but according to the counselor’s judgement.
Hey Clarke,
Haven’t listened to this one yet…but what about the same question applied to advancement up to First Class? Some of the requirements have the option of being done in school or patrol outings so those are obvious. What about others?
When the requirement is silent about the circumstances under which it is to be fulfilled that’s an indication (to me at least) where it is done isn’t an issue.
Some requirements specify they are to be fulfilled on a camping trip, or
(as you noted) as a part of a certain activity or a list of alternative situations, other than that I can’t recall much specificity in where they are done.
No, the Merit Badge Counselor must require the Scout to meet the merit badge requirements. No more, no less.
This question requires more than a “yes” or “no” answer. Naturally the counselor must see to it that the Scout specifically completes each merit badge requirement. Simply equating having taken a class related to the badge as earning the badge would not work.
Assignments or activities done as a part of the class may have fulfilled a given requirement. It’s up to the counselor to assess wether they did or did not.