What is First Class Emphasis and what is it designed to do?

[commish3]

This appears like it is a ripe topic for discussion based on comments regarding it in another thread.

First Class Emphasis (sometimes misidentified as First Class, First Year, which is the name of a recognition certificate) is a program planning tool that goes hand in hand with the use of the BSA's recommended troop structure where three distinct Patrol types are used. That being New Scout Patrols, Regular or Experienced Patrols, and Venture Patrols.

First Class Emphasis is a focused program plan used in the New Scout Patrol, that gives an active scout the opportunity to Learn, Test, be Reviewed, and be recognized for the ranks leading to and including First Class within the first approximately 14-months of his Boy Scout membership.

It's purpose is to give the scout the basic skills needed to integrate into the regular program of the troop, and to give the scout the activity, confidence, experience and self-esteem to keep more scouts in the troop for that all imortant first year. Troops that use NSP and First Class Emphasis have a higher retention rate not only for the first year, but for the first three years of scouting, than units that do not use it.

Can it be a low quality advancement? That would depend like all ther advancement, on the quality and abilities of the unit leaders for that scout's specific unit.

First Class Emphasis has been a part of theBSA's troop program for nearly twenty years, and is taught as part of Scoutmaster Leader Specifc Training as it has been in all troop leader training courses that have proceeded it.

[OldGreyBear]

Its my understanding the First Class Emphasis is a committment a Troop makes to present a program that allows an active scout to become first class if he meets all the requirements in the 12-14 month range. Just attending events doesn't cut it, the requirements actually have to be met. I think this program is one of the most misunderstood that the BSA has. I have heard detractors say that this program rushes the scout too fast and creates "false" advancement, nowhere do I find anything published that requirements are not to be met and met exactly, nothing added, nothing removed. I know of a few troops that are proud that they do not offer the First Class emphasis, and I truly dont understand why you wouldnt have a program that allows scouts who come to events make first class in the referred time frame. If a scout cant/wont meet the requirements, then he doesnt advance regardless of the program quality

[Rick Tyler]

Once you've mastered the required skills for First Class, you are a camper. You can get yourself ready for an outdoors experience, and survive there comfortably. That's the idea anyway, and the reason that teaching the skills required for T-SC-FC as soon as possible makes sense. Whether the scout shows up for enough outings and does enough work to complete the requirements is up to him and his Troop Guide or Patrol Leader.

If you were an first-year scout in our troop you would go on a 4-day backpacking trip, attend two or three snow camps, attend summer camp, have completed Iron Scout (our one-day physical fitness and scout skills challenge), and would probably have around 25 nights of camping. There is no particular reason you couldn't learn the basic skills involved in being a First Class scout in a year if you attended the outings and paid attention.

We sometimes say that scouts who make First Class in a year are more likely to stick with the program. I think that may be backwards. I think you could argue that scouts who like camping and the outdoors are more likely to earn First Class in a year.

[commish3]

OldGreyBear is correct. No one is suggesting that short-cuts be taken. First Class emphasis is about planning a focused program for 12 to 14-months where each new Scout; Learns, is tested, is reviewed, and is Recognized in the correct way according to the program.

Rick makes some excellent points as well. I would only add that whether the activity feeds the enjoyment, or the enjoyment feeds the activity really won't matter as long as the scout has fun and comes away with the basic skills of scouting that are represented in the trai through First Class is what reaklly matters.

To make this possible the BSA recommends an assistant scoutmaster oversee the program for New Scout Patrols, and that a qualified Troop Guide be assigned to each New Scout Patrol by the SPL.

The BSA also makes advancement tracking sheets available to help the ASm of New Scout Patrols and the Guides to plan out the First Class Emphasis program and to track the individual scout's progress.

Once the New Scout has achieved First Class they will be a year more mature, a year stronger, a year smarter, more knowledgable about troop and patrol operations, and skilled enough to properly prepare himself for a trip, cook, clean, hike and camp safely.

He can now choose to remain in his existing patrol as it transitions into a regular patrol, OR he can be placed with friends in an already existing regular patrol where he will be better recieved due to his growth over the last year or so.

It is a very effective plan that has worked well for many units over the past two decades.

[RWSmith]

Excellent posts, y'all... very insightful. Thanks, really.