When can requirements be started?

[optimist]

Messages moved from MeritBadge.com

MaryT
Scout

Joined: 27 Jul 2004
Posts: 2

Posted: 27 Jul 2004 09:15 am Post subject: When can
requirements be started?

I have searched the web looking for the answer to this
question. I am a counselor for Citizenship in the World. One
of the possible requirements is 9d - "Study a foreign language
for a year" I have been told by many parents that a scout
cannot even begin a requirement for a merit badge until they
get the blue card and meet with the counselor. This makes
sense for most things, but is there an exception for things
that take one year to complete? Does the scout need to begin
the study of the foreign language after they have started the
merit badge process and then they could complete the merit
badge 1 year later? I realize there are other ways to meet
this section, but I have a scout who has studied a foreign
language for 4 years and he wants that to count for this
requirement. Can you point me to the official policy regarding
meeting time requirements? Thanks.

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Firefish
Life

Joined: 05 Jul 2004
Posts: 145
Location: Beaver, Pa
Posted: 27 Jul 2004 09:22 am Post subject:

I dont think so I didnt
_________________
Peter Cahill
Troop 469
A Fighting Irish

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optimist
Advancement Chairman

Joined: 27 Jun 2004
Posts: 146

Posted: 27 Jul 2004 09:37 am Post subject:

Welcome to the boards MaryT. A good discussion of this
occurred in the following thread:
http://www.meritbadge.com/phpbb/viewtopic.php?t=52

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MaryT
Scout

Joined: 27 Jul 2004
Posts: 2

Posted: 27 Jul 2004 09:50 am Post subject: Thanks....

Thanks for the link to the past discussion. The answer makes
perfect sense, but I have a Scoutaster who is a stickler for
following the rules. It's too bad there isn't written
clarification in some official scout document. I will print
out the reply and show it to him, it will most likely make for
an interesting discussion!

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cballman
Second Class

Joined: 27 Jul 2004
Posts: 18
Location: Nicholasville KY
Posted: 27 Jul 2004 09:46 pm Post subject: Merit badge
counseling

Mary In our troop the unwritten rules say that you cannot use
anything before you get a blue card. but if a merit Badge
counselor says that a boy can use any thing as long as it was
after he joined scouts then our troop doesnt say anything
about it but we leave that up to the counselor and in our
training and council as long as someone has seen the boy do it
that is fine because ALL scouts and leaders are Trustworthy

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wagionvigil
Counselor

Joined: 21 Jul 2004
Posts: 191
Location: PA
Posted: 28 Jul 2004 06:26 am Post subject:

Mary the MB Counselor makes the decision what or what not
accept. AT lesat in our council they do. The Council also
agrees with this.
_________________
Action Center D Rappel Tower Director 2001 and 2005 National
Jamborees
Northeast REgion Area 4 Venturing Chairman
Wagion 6 Lodge Advisor 96-99
"If you ain't A bear you're a Meal"

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Billvann
Second Class

Joined: 14 Jul 2004
Posts: 19
Location: McHenry, IL
Posted: 28 Jul 2004 08:24 am Post subject: Re: Thanks....

MaryT wrote:
Thanks for the link to the past discussion. The answer
makes perfect sense, but I have a Scoutaster who is a
stickler for following the rules. It's too bad there
isn't written clarification in some official scout
document. I will print out the reply and show it to him,
it will most likely make for an interesting discussion!

The requirement does NOT say "Study a foreign language for a
year after filling out a blue card." If a Merit Badge
Counselor believes the scout has met the requirement, it is
within his judgement to say the requirement is satisfied.
Requiring him to study the language for a fifth year seems
absurd and excessive. After all, what is the purpose of the
requirement? To introduce the scout to a structured class in
speaking the language. I would think that four years of study
will have accomplished what the requirements requisite one
year is striving to achieve.

BTW, I don't think the SM has the final say in whether or not
a scout earns a merit badge, you do.
_________________
Willie Vannerson
ASM Troop 149
McHenry, IL

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ScoutmasterBob
Counselor

Joined: 07 Jul 2004
Posts: 79
Location: Woods Cross, Utah
Posted: 29 Jul 2004 12:26 pm Post subject:

In our troop, we have always subscribed to the idea that a boy
can work on any of the requirements for a MB, he does not need
to visit with the counsellor ahead of time, I think this is a
good idea especially with MB that require a long time to
complete, but we have never required it, but he needs to be
scout age to do so, at least 11 years old.

The MBC needs to determin if the scout has fulfilled the
requirements, it is simple as that. In my opinion, it sounds
as though he has.

Maybe you can suggest that he try to earn the interpretor
strip for his language, a lofty goal and it is one more patch
for the uniform too.
_________________
Bob Torkelson
Scoutmaster Troop 538
www.wx5troop538.homestead.com
Live The Oath!

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wagionvigil
Counselor

Joined: 21 Jul 2004
Posts: 191
Location: PA
Posted: 29 Jul 2004 03:41 pm Post subject:

BINGO Bob
_________________
Action Center D Rappel Tower Director 2001 and 2005 National
Jamborees
Northeast REgion Area 4 Venturing Chairman
Wagion 6 Lodge Advisor 96-99
"If you ain't A bear you're a Meal"

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optimist
Advancement Chairman

Joined: 27 Jun 2004
Posts: 146

Posted: 29 Jul 2004 07:58 pm Post subject: Re: Thanks....

Billvann wrote:
The requirement does NOT say "Study a foreign language
for a year after filling out a blue card."

I think Billvann hit the nail on the head.

Advancement Committee Policies and Procedures wrote:
No council, district, unit, or individual has the
authority to add to or subtract from any advancement
requirement. A Boy Scout badge recognizes what a young
man is able to do; it is not a reward for what he has
done.

If a Scout has spent a year learning a language, he has shown
what he is capable of doing. If you force him to take another
year, you are simply rewarding him for completing a new task
when he's already shown his capabilities. That's in writing
MaryT.

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