In all
Scouting skills, the important thing to remember is that you are dealing
with an individual, a person. Each Scout advances at his own rate and
shouldn’t be pushed ahead or held back because other patrol members
are leading or lagging.
It is
important that the Scout learn the skill thoroughly, not superficially
just to get the sign off. The sign off is the end result of learning
a skill! For a first-year Scout, he must earn the ranks in order. He
must complete Tenderfoot before he can complete Second Class, etc. The
skills for Tenderfoot, Second Class, and First Class do not have to be
earned in order. The Scout can work on the skills for all three at the
same time. Even if the Scout learns all the skills for First Class, he
cannot earn that rank until he earns the ranks before it.
A Scout
learns by doing. As he learns, he grows in ability to do his part as
a member of the patrol and the troop. As he develops knowledge and skill,
he is asked to teach others; and in this way he begins to develop leadership.
It is
the Scoutmaster's job to make sure that all Scouts actually learn! Scoutmasters
and Assistant Scoutmasters should check the work done by summer camp
merit badge counselors and merit badge day counselors to make sure the
Scout is learning, not just putting in time to get a card signed.
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