bnelso wrote:Thank you very much. That slide deck says "Sole basis of denial rests on the Scout’s not meeting the requirements"
First I've seen wording like that. Kinda makes sense, however the interpretation of "meeting the requirements" is, well, not defined. For example if a Scout is signed off on something but the board member doesn't think the Scout learned it well enough to meet the requirement, can he ask him to redo the requirement? Note this is not retesting, this is interpretation of "meeting the requirements."
I also saw another slide deck just now that said that determining 'scout spirit' is also up to the board. I thought we had a requirement that is signed off by the Scoutmaster for that.
Can you give me your perspective on this touchy subject?
No...Once the requirement is signed off...its signed off and he has met the requirement. If it somehow determined that the scout did not get the requirement signed off by someone authorized to sign it off, that's different. That is a troop internal issue that is not taken up at the scout's BOR.
On MBs, once a registered and approved counselor has passed a Scout on its requirements, a merit badge cannot be taken away. Neither does unit leadership have the authority to “veto” it. And even if it were found a counselor is not so documented it would be a rare occasion when a Scout would be punished for the failing of an adult.
For Scout Spirit, the ideals of the Boy Scouts of America are spelled out in the Scout Oath, Scout Law, Scout motto, and Scout slogan. Members incorporating these ideals into their daily lives at home, at school, in their religious life, and in their neighborhoods, for example, are said to have Scout spirit. In evaluating whether a scout has "passed" this requirement, it may be best to begin by asking him to explain in his own words, what Scout spirit, and living the Scout Oath and Law mean. A BOR typically asks for examples of how a Scout has lived the Oath and Law. It might also be useful to ask for examples of failing to do so. Evaluating Scout Spirit will always be a judgment call, but through getting to know a young man and by asking probing questions we can get a feel for it. We can say however, that we do not measure it by counting meetings and outings attended, or just observing his enthusiasm. It is indicated instead; by the way he lives his life.
