Why Rush?

[Hubert]

Why is it that kids rush to get Eagle. Ive seen posts on here of kids who has earned Eagle before their 12th birthday. Why is there a rush? I do not see why that is. Personaly, I do not see making Eagle quick, lets see, I dont know how to explain this without sounding bad. But I think that the path to Eagle is just as important. Making it after two years or one year as a Boy Scout, you do not have a very long path. I think as you get older, indeed you have more to do in life, but you also mature. You learn things, and see them differently. Making Eagle is more than "making eagle" or getting the rank. It is indeed a high achivement, no matter the age. I just see that the older you are, the more you do in scouting, the more you learn and the more it helps you in the longrun.

This is just a thought Ive had.

thought, feelings, opinions?

I think this could be an interesting thread, I am wondering what everyone has to say! Thanks everyone!

[riverwalk]

We've had some other threads about this, but tonight I heard something related and will reply to your topic.

One Scouter introduced me to this 11 year old Scout. The Scouter said that he and myself would plan to be there and see him get his Eagle. The Scout said " don't rush me to it". This guy doesn't care for the fast track approach, so I appreciated his answer, haha. Everyone is different though...and some will want to move at a quicker pace, and may be adept at everything on their trail. Others might get nudged along to suit others, and this isn't best for everyone.

[Hubert]

I am the same way, I do not liked to be rushed. I think I have learned more, waiting longer and growing more.

P.S. Sorry if this repeating topics. I saw a topic earlier tonight about it and made me think more.

[scoutaholic]

I try to encourage the boys in my troop to finish before their 14th birthday. I even have a reward (bribe) in place to encourage them to do it. In 8 years as SM, I've only had to pay up on the reward twice.

Now for my reasoning. In our LDS Church sponsored troop, the boys leave the troop and join the Varsity Team when they turn 14. This keeps them with their age group while, theoretically, still allowing them to work on their scouting. However, in reality, few LDS Varsity teams actually do much scouting, so in effect, they lose their scouting support, and have to finish up their Eagle on their own. Some are able to do it with encouragement from home and from their past leaders. Others simply quit advancing. Then they start getting busier in school / sports / girls / etc. and they lose their focus. In this environment, if they don't get it before turning 14, it gets MUCH harder.

Now for a special reason just for my son. He has decided that he wants all 121 Merit Badges. We have talked about this being a very ambitious goal, and how hard it could be, but I don't want to discourage him doing it if he really wants it. As has been stated elsewhere on this forum, that would be 20 palms (7 bronze, 7 gold, and 6 silver), but only if Eagle is finished before the 13th birthday. Otherwise you run out of 3 Month periods to get all the palms. He has already missed that deadline, because it took some extra practice time to pass a swim test and get 1st Class. He is on track to get Eagle 2.5 months after his 13th birthday, and he will only be able to get 19 palms.

[evmori]

I think what happens is the adults think a Scout's advancement is their responsibility. It isn't. It is the responsibility of the Scout. The responsibility of the adult leadership is to provide advancement opportunities & to encourage the Scouts to take advantage of them. We are also responsible for training the youth leadership in the unit. And most important, we, as adult leaders, are responsible for teaching the Scouts to make moral & ethical decisions in their lives.

If we do all this, advancement will happen.

[Lynda J]

Kevin just turned 14. He use to have a sign in his room that said

"16=Eagle" I will be very happy with that. He is currently working on his Eagle. And is he keep progressing as he is now will probably finish before he is 15. But it is his journey.

I know many want boys to earn Eagle before they get into the double G stage. (Gas & Girls)

I have seen parents push their kids at things until they have robbed them of their childhood. Kids have to deal with the real world soon enough. Lets not make mini adults out of them to soon. THEY JUST NEED TO BE ALLOWED TO BE KIDS.

[Quailman]

I know many want boys to earn Eagle before they get into the double G stage. (Gas & Girls)

That's what the scouters in this area fear most as a distraction from the boys' path, only we refer to it as fumes taking control (Gasoline & Perfume). For the most part, though, we only try to get the boys to 1st class within a year or so of them joining. That way they are motivated by getting advancement recognition early along their trail, but the rest is up to them. We merely present opportunities for required MB's and leadership.

[Quailman]

...and we also watch the clock for them. We remind them and their parents when the dreaded 18th birthday is approaching.

[ronin718]

Part of it also has to do with the motivation factor. Many boys come into Scouts highly charged and energetic. Too many times we see that "fire" start to fade as the boys hit 14. Once the enthusiasm is gone, it's hard to get it kicked in again.

I think it's simply a matter of striking while the iron is hot. Let the boy run as long as he wants and as fast as he wants, 'cuz at some point in time he's going to stop running.

[wagionvigil]

Get Eagle by 14 or 15 automatic move to a Venturing Crew until 21.

[scouter01]

Im around 13ish and a star scout. when I first joined, my parents encouraged me alot and signed me up for most things ( I don't regret it) and now I am by far the farthest 13 year old. While I won't be a 13 year old eagle, I will be a 13 year old like which is faster than most I see, but not redicualos. I am not rushing, just motivated to get other awards , such as the hornday one.

[Hubert]

I agree with a lot here. I do not like the parents who push their kids too hard. The ones that are being robbed of their childhood as LyndaJ said. I love that fire when they first join, and yes it does fade away, but I think it fades faster when the boys are being harped on a lot. In that sense, sometimes, it couldnt be because of the two G's, but of rebelion. They are being pushed too hard by their parents, so they rebel. I am not saying that is the case, but that can and probally has happned.

Sometimes, I think the adults get too involved. I know they help a lot, but theres a line between adult leadership, and youth leadership. Its one thing to encouarge, but another to push. Sometimes, a fire needs to be lit under the boys butt to get them moving, but dont keep it there. If they feel comfortable advancing at their own pace, let them. It all about them and what they learned, not about making Eagle. It is a HUGE honor and a HUGE thing to do so, but it is also about the life lessons that you learn.

[WeeWillie]

As one parent put it, "So my son can move on to bigger and better things."

Or as another parent put it, "I want my son to make Eagle before he loses interest." This was his explanation for why he was doing his son's Bird Study MB work for him, because he wouldn't do it himself. By the way, Dad is an Eagle Scout, OA Vigil, former OA Lodge Chief, NOAC participant, World Jamboree participant.

[Hubert]

Or as another parent put it, "I want my son to make Eagle before he loses interest." This was his explanation for why he was doing his son's Bird Study MB work for him, because he wouldn't do it himself. By the way, Dad is an Eagle Scout, OA Vigil, former OA Lodge Chief, NOAC participant, World Jamboree participant.

Wow, thats...wow. Not like any scout I know thats for sure. Not trying to insult that parent, but thats not right. A scout does his work to advance at his rate.

[Mrw]

We had a boy leave the troop once because he was due for his Life SM conference and BOR (by calendar dates) on a day we were at the park playing basketball. His parents were so upset that we were not sensitive to his schedule, they switched troops. (Joey was a great kid, but we did not miss the parents!)

This happened when he was finishing 7th grade. In the new troop, it took another 6 months for him to make Life scout since they wanted to get to know him first. He did eventually make Eagle, but on his schedule, not his parents. He dragged it out until a couple weeks before he turned 18 just because he could.

[optimist]

For someone who took the time to create a web site like MeritBadge.com, you'd think I would heavily emphasize advancement. Actually, I'm very laid back about it. Friday's Board of Review reflects that. The two Scouts up for advancement happened to be the SPL and the ASPL. The SPL has been a Scout for 2 1/2 years and he earned his Star rank. The ASPL has been a Scout for 2 years and he earned his First Class rank. Both of them will probably get to Life quickly but only because of summer camp merit badges. Once there, the remaining five Eagle merit badges will slow them down unless they put forth extra effort. I suspect that it will be another 2 to 2 1/2 years before they make Eagle.

[Hubert]

Thats what I like to see. The boys making the effort to Eagle. It shows true heart and dedication.

[Scouting179]

Part of becoming an Eagle is making it one's own journey. I agree a Scout should not be rushed by someone else, but if he wants to make it quickly, then that's his journey.

[pipestone1991]

I say let them rush Hubert...you know why?...that way they won't be finishing Eagle the day before they turn 18..........I hopefully will have my Eagle in July or Agust so I'll still 15 when I earn mine........working on my Eagle Project today (last requirement I need!)

[Hubert]

Ya, thats prettys cool pipestone. Congrats. I kinda sit the fence though, I think anywhere from 15-17 is a great time to be earning it. It will really show scouting spirit by showing you will stick to it, even though you have other things going on.