15 July 2009
Scoutmaster Merit Badge Veto
Posted by admin under: policies .
One of the ideas over at the BSA innovation engine, where the paid employees of the BSA discuss possible changes in the way they run the program, is to clarify the merit badge program for Scoutmasters.
I’ve been working on a special summer session of our normal merit badge classes here at the museum. I ran into some issues this past week with scouts wanting to take the Personal Management class that is this Saturday. Unfortunately they had to pull out here at the last second because their Scoutmasters refused to give them a blue card. The rational of the Scoutmasters happen to be that the boys were “too young” to take the merit badge.
The BSA policy is that all boys who are registered members of the Boy Scouts of America and are in the Boy Scout program can take any merit badge they want whenever they want. These Scoutmasters are indirect contradiction to BSA policy and unfortunatley the parents are unwilling to go against the wishes of their son’s Scoutmaster.
I think we need to make merit badges a key point in the training of Adult Leaders. Otherwise, we need to find a way to make sure Scoutmasters cannot deny the Scout the opportunity to take a merit badge.
I believe a Scoutmaster should have the right to voice his disapproval, but he should not be allowed to refuse a blue card to a Scout wishing to take any merit badge.
The idea currently has a positive review. I knew that Boy Scouts had to get the Scoutmaster’s approval to start a merit badge (check that… Walter says otherwise in the comments. Check out his explanation), but I always thought of that as kind of a head’s up so the Scoutmaster knew what was going on. So, I pulled out one of my son’s merit badge blue cards and it clearly says that the Scoutmaster is approving that the Scout has his permission to begin working on the merit badge.
If this idea is to go forward then the old blue cards need to be nixed in order to avoid confusion. It is foreign to me that a Scoutmaster would deny a boy the chance to begin working on a merit badge. What’s the point in denying the application? To cut the boy’s confidence in himself by saying that he can’t handle it? To gently guide him toward a different path? Why would the Scoutmaster have that power? The Scoutmaster is an example and assistant to the boy-led troop.
Well, I guess I’m confused as to how the Scoutmaster was ever viewed as being someone who could have the authority to deny a boy the chance to work on a merit badge. There must be some reason why the program was constructed this way, but I’m at a loss to figure out what it was unless it has something to do with a rule that was changed in the past. There was some talk about certain merit badges not being done until a certain rank was achieved, but that doesn’t appear to be the case any more.
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25 Comments so far...
Walter Underwood Says:
15 July 2009 at 6:46 pm.
The blue card doesn’t say “Scoutmaster”, it says “unit leader”. That can be an ASM or even a boy leader.
The only issue I can think of with being “qualified to begin” is having any prerequisites done.
admin Says:
15 July 2009 at 6:59 pm.
Hmmm. I guess that makes sense. I’ve always thought unit leader was the person who was considered the leader of the unit, aka the Scoutmaster, but that would be an unnecessary obfuscation when you could just as easily put Scoutmaster. Strange, they never mentioned that at my merit badge training, but they spent much more time on the restrictions of the counselors than the unit leaders. I’ve never run into anyone else who read the blue card as being signed by anyone but the Scoutmaster. I wonder why that is or why I didn’t hear it if they did say it.
Gregg Hilferding Says:
15 July 2009 at 9:27 pm.
I believe the wording “unit leader” is ambiguous because members of Teams and Venturers can work on merit badges. So, “unit leader” is an umbrella over Scoutmaster, Coach, and Crew Advisor.
This page on the BSA website (which is in the Boy Scouts section) specifically tells Boy Scouts to talk to their Scoutmaster (and says that the SM picks the counselor, not the Scout) and to get a signed merit badge application from the Scoutmaster:
http://www.scouting.org/scoutsource/BoyScouts/AdvancementandAwards/MeritBadges.aspx
> What’s the point in denying the application? Why would the Scoutmaster have that power?
Ignoring the specific example cited, I could see circumstances where the Scoutmaster (and only the Scoutmaster) is in a position to deny an application in order to meet the guidelines within the Guide to Safe Scouting.
For example, Climb On Safely requires “evidence of fitness for the climbing/rappelling activity with at least a current BSA Personal Health and Medical Record—Class 1, No. 34414A.” Since the Scoutmaster is the individual responsible for the health & safety of the Scout and he may be the only adult leader with access to a particular Scout’s medical form, he may be in a unique position to deny a Scout from beginning work on Climbing merit badge because of a medical condition listed on their medical form.
I’m sure that’s an incredibly rare situation, but “health & safety” can sometimes explain procedures that may seem, on the surface, superfluous. 
Clarke A Green Says:
15 July 2009 at 9:31 pm.
Overcomplicating what should be a simple process some Scoutmasters feel that they are the guardians of quality when it comes to merit badges or other recognitions. “We must uphold standards!” they say as if Scouts were going to cheat or somehow diminish the status of an award by earning them.
Merit badges are not diplomas or licenses. They are the simple recognition that a Scout has done his best to earn the badge in the opinion of the counselor.
Larry G Says:
16 July 2009 at 1:29 am.
The BSA website at Language of Scouting clearly defines a “unit leader” to be a Cubmaster, Scoutmaster, Coach, Advisor, or Skipper. ASM’s, committee members, and youth leaders are not unit leaders.
Per BSA policy all registered scouts are eligible to work on any merit badges from the first day they become a member.
The signature of the scoutmaster is not “approval” for the scout to begin work on the merit badge, only confirmation that the youth is a duly registered member of the BSA as identified in the information filled out above the Scoutmaster’s signature. Further it is one of the Scoutmasters defined responsibility to ensure the scout has found a registered merit badge counselor for the subject. In most cases the Scoutmaster will also notify the Advancement Chair so that person is aware that the scout is working on a merit badge and update troop records to so reflect.
It is important to note that the Scoutmaster can neither approve nor deny a scout who wants to work on a merit badge because BSA policy trumps those who think they can by having stated that registered scouts are eligible to work on any merit badge at any time. Anyone who tries to interject themselves between national advancement policies and their own wishes will find themselves overruled by district and council advancement committees.
Randy C Says:
16 July 2009 at 9:32 am.
In our troop, We have a designated ASM as the advancement coordinator. She also keeps the records, tracks advancement, etc. We limit the number of merit badges a scout can be working on at one time to two or three. except at summer camp. It is only so that a scout doesn’t start a bunch and then never finishes any. As a scout finished one he is usually challenged to pick another over the next week or two, and shee keeps track of that as well. Scouts are also encouraged to drop non required merit badges if they decide half way into it that they don’t like it. The half hour before meetings is dedicated to advancement, and most scouts show up and work at their own pace on something. Younger scouts can also spend that half hour practicing the previous weeks scout skill, or having troop leaders test for scout skills and sign off in books.
LatterDay_Scout Says:
16 July 2009 at 10:25 am.
I think the “approval” is indeed intended to help the Scoutmaster with record keeping, make sure the scout has his blue card, a MB book, and resources to get him started (including pre-reqs where necessary). The Scoutmaster certainly shouldn’t ever deny the scout the opportunity to take whatever MB they want to. That’s the point! They are to express the interest and run with it, not have the SM slow them down..
HOWEVER..
I think a SM veto could be helpful for another reason.. I’m tired of scouts receiving merit badges at summer camp or merit badge fairs that I know they have not earned because they have not completed the requirements, yet the counselor has signed them off.
This speaks to the need for better oversight in the recruiting and training of MB counselors and camp staff, not necessarily the scouts. It is important that the scouts understand the requirements clearly, and comply otherwise they will not receive the true benefit of the award. But sometimes the requirements are not clearly explained to them, especially pre-reqs to be completed outside of camp/class.
For instance.. I had a SM conf with a scout that earned the Camping merit badge. As we were talking about the badge requirements, it became very clear that some of the requirements had not been addressed, and certainly had not been completed. Yet the scout’s card was signed.. so what’s a SM to do when it is clear to the SM and the Scout that the counselor has not done his duty?
I set some goals with this scout to complete his requirement, despite the fact the MB had already been obtained – because I know it will mean more to him if he knows he earned it fairly rather than having it gifted to him because of convenience.. then it’s on his honor to complete.
Eleanor Says:
21 July 2009 at 7:32 pm.
I am a merit badge counselor (and have been for 10 years) for the “Personal Management” Badge. I like to have just high school age boy Scouts in my class. Just for the simple fact that they are more mature, will most likely understand the material more, and will be able to complete the 90 day income/expenses portion easier (16yrs. and older will have had a better opportunity for a job/car/volunteer opportunities. I feel this is a badge to be taught as a boy is preparing to work on his eagle project details. It gives him the foundation to understand his true income and expenses for his project.
Lisa Says:
27 July 2009 at 10:44 am.
I agree with Eleanor. It is not that the Scoutmaster has “power” it is the job of the Scoutmaster to make sure the scout does not do a merit badge that would be to difficult for them such as the Personal Management. This merit badge is best done when a scout has a steady income coming in because this is a life skill which will help them when they go off to college and they are on their own. I can not for see how this merit badge could help a 12 – 15 year old scout when the most they can do for a job is mow grass, babysit, or odd jobs. As a parent I have taught both my sons what they need to know with the money they have recieved by doing these odd jobs. When my 15 yr. gets a job next year when he turns 16 is when I told him he needs to do the personal management merit badge because then he will be able to understand it as he makes a steady income.
As a parent you too can “guide” your scout towards age approriate merit badges there are A LOT of merit badges don’t force them to do something that will be frustrating for them and well above their heads. It is our jobs as parents and scoutmasters and assistant scoutmasters to help guide the scouts so they do not get frustrated and want to give up. So that may be what that particular scoutmaster was thinking of was to not let the scout get frustrated and lose his self confidence. Because as adults we all know how important self confidence is to growing boys and girls. So next time a scoutmaster “denies” a scout a merit badge please just ask him why and see what his explaination is as it may be as simple as self confidence of the scout.
WKS Says:
2 August 2009 at 3:27 pm.
Basically someone has to be a gatekeeper and that is the Scoutmaster. Look at the program as a whole (Scoutmaster Conference, Merit Badges, Troop registration and certification of Scouts) and that is his or her to complete the Mission of Scouting.
“The mission of the Boy Scouts of America is to prepare young people to make ethical and moral choices over their lifetimes by instilling in them the values of the Scout Oath and Law.”
Funny, I have heard the refrain “remove barriers to success” from well meaning adults and parents for years. As a long time scoutmaster (over 30 years) I simply point to the following quote to the scouting guidelines for Merit Badges that have a different direction.
“Boy Scouting provides a series of surmountable obstacles and steps in overcoming them through the advancement method. The Boy Scout plans his advancement and progresses at his own pace as he meets each challenge. The Boy Scout is rewarded for each achievement, which helps him gain self-confidence. The steps in the advancement system help a Boy Scout grow in self-reliance and in the ability to help others.” http://www.scouting.org/scoutsource/BoyScouts/AdvancementandAwards.aspx
Sorry, we don’t accomplish that by allowing Scouts to sign up for monthly Merit Badges, running Merit Badge classes and removing barriers to success. Scouts only need to have 21 Merit Badges for Eagle. There is so much more that this program offers!
Sean Catherall Says:
5 August 2009 at 5:20 pm.
I earned Personal Management at the age of 11 or 12 and completed every requirement. The belief that a boy must have achieved a certain age or grade in school in order to begin the merit badge unnecessarily excludes boys who are mature enough to earn it and violates BSA policy.
I know a man who was told by his Scoutmaster (in the 1930’s or 1940’s) that the Art and Bird Study merit badges were too difficult for him. He not only went on to earn both of those merit badges, but also ended up professionally drawing and painting true-to-life illustrations of birds as an adult.
The point of getting his signature is to verify to the merit badge counselor that he is a registered Scout and that he has conferred with his Scoutmaster, giving the Scoutmaster an opportunity to select the Merit Badge Counselor, to guide the Scout in his advancement choices, to reiterate the Merit Badge process and to help the Scout set appropriate goals. If a Scoutmaster wants to encourage a Scout to change his mind, that is part of his role as a guide and counselor. But if the Scout doesn’t change his mind and still wants to work on that badge, it is the Scoutmaster’s duty to sign the blue card after an appropriate Scoutmaster Conference.
Frank Rapp, Scoutmaster Says:
10 August 2009 at 3:29 pm.
Just wondering is, “The rational of the Scoutmasters happen to be that the boys were “too young” to take the merit badge.” from the scouts or scoutmaster? One of the goals of merit badges is to get the scouts to interact with adults and I am wondering if the MB councilor is doing the same. It does not appear to me that we are getting the full response of the scoutmaster. Could it be that the parents are the ones that think he is too young and the scoutmaster is being the bad guy. I know that we should not overstep BSA guidelines, but sometimes troop bylaws address how a troop is going to run. BP thought that there should be rules to govern safety and to otherwise treat scouting as an experiment. Get both sides of the story is all I’m saying.
jkb973 Says:
28 August 2009 at 10:06 pm.
“Any Boy Scout may earn any merit badge at any time.”
Merit badges are between the counselor and the scout. Aside from signing the Blue Card and helping find a counselor, Unit Leadership is not involved.
What is this idea of ‘age appropriate merit badges’ come from?
What entitles a unit leader to encourage a Scout to change his mind?
Where is it written that the job of the Scoutmaster to make sure the scout does not do a merit badge that would be to difficult for him?
Why would a Scoutmaster think that he or she can not allow a scout to sign up for a merit badge?
Why would a counselor impose additional requirements, like age or grade?
Where does unit leadership get the idea that they can limit the number of merit badges a scout can be working on at one time?
“Any Boy Scout may earn any merit badge at any time.” Period.
Jane Hand Says:
2 September 2009 at 7:46 am.
We just left a troop because of a scoutmaster who believes that he has to manage every aspect of a boy’s scouting career. Not only does he refuse to sign blue cards, but he has ignores the official definition of “scout spirit” and has replaced it with his own unwritten and subjective definition to hold boys back from advancement. He also makes every boy that wants to begin working on his eagle project meet with him first. He micro-manages and pokes his nose everywhere that is doesn’ t belong. He is referred to by boys and adults alike as Napoleon or Little Hitler. There is no freedom to be an individual in our old troop and we have escaped the tyranny.
Brian Klar Says:
30 September 2009 at 11:55 am.
I must admit our troop is run for the most part very well. My son just joined BSA 1 year ago, and is 3 requirements of a merit badge away from earning his Star advancement. I have recently started to research how a merit badge is to be obtained. It really seems hit and miss depending on the site you are on, including the BSA website. Our SM has told me this past week that his signature on the blue card indicates that he believes the scout is ready. He continued further by stating he does not have to sign a blue card, but would if he felt a scout is not ready to pursue a MB (i.e. Personal Finance) before a more mature age, he would not sign the blue card, but instead try to get the scout to “go for” something else. Now I have read all of the scout merit badges are developed with a 12 year old in mind, and at that, no merit badge can/should ever be denied the scout. I also look at it this way, there are things you will experience, that depending on the SM will not count if you do not have a blue card already, so why not make a universal card? One signing and you are approved for any Merit Badges. It makes it less confusing trying to track whom is doing what!
Pete Villarreal Says:
15 October 2009 at 5:28 pm.
The 2007 edition of the Scoutmaster Handbook specifically states on page 127 that “Scouts may work on any merit badge at any time, assuming they have the approval of their Scoutmaster.”
The SM Handbook does not qualify “approval” as being only for administrative bookeeping so I have to assume that it means permission. Neither the Troop Committee Guidebook or Advancement Committee Policies and Procedures book carry this caveat, which may be the root cause of many conflicts. Nonetheless, the BSA has previously stated that in the case of conflicting material from multiple publications, the Boy Scouts Requirements book will be the deciding publication.
Mark W Says:
11 November 2009 at 5:10 pm.
In SM training, I was told that you cannot deny anyone from working on a MB. However, if a boy has 24 unfinished MBs out there, the SM might say, “Hey, I’ll sign this but let’s clean up one of the ones that are out there first.” It’s not denying the boy and it’s encouraging him to complete something. A bit of delayed gratification.
dl Says:
23 November 2009 at 11:15 am.
Never sell a scout short – YOU may not feel he is ready to tackle a particular badge or that he is capable of understanding what he is participating in, but most times they achieve and exceed! “Any Boy Scout may earn any merit badge at any time.” A “leader” should certainly be aware of advancement progress but it is not their job to dictate to a young man, the path he should take to achieve his ultimate goal. Denying blue cards is adding one’s own individual “rules” to advancement requirements. I’m a bit shocked at a few of the comments posted on this subject – they certainly would appear not to be in line with Boy Scout protocol.
Scott Says:
5 May 2010 at 1:58 pm.
Scoutmasters are the “Grand Poopah” of the Merit badge program. It’s not as if any SM would deny a Scout the right to take ANY MB he wants. His role is to ensure that he not only has the maturity to take the badge, but also to look at the big picture of the Scout’s advancement. For example, a Scout needs only one or two Eagle MB’s for a higher rank and he may be almost finished with one or both of them. The Scout comes to the SM requesting to take a non-required MB. It would be the SM’s duty to urge and encourage the Scout the wait on the non-Eagle badge and finish the others before starting another. It is a SM’s job to be the gatekeeper to keep the Scout on track. If it really becomes an issue, I guess the Scout should be allowed to take “Underwater Basket Weaving”, as long as the SM & the Scout have discussed the ramifications.
RAT Says:
8 August 2010 at 12:53 pm.
After attending a merit badge clinic, our SM refused to sign blue cards stating that he didn’t really believe that the boys were able to earn the cards in a short amount of time. He grilled the boys on what they had worked on in regards to the merit badge and then made his decision as to whether or not they needed to “redo” requirements. I cannot find any definitive answers on this subject and was wondering if anyone can help.
hohumonscouting Says:
3 September 2010 at 8:59 pm.
My nephew who is an eagle scout encouraged my son to work on some merit badges this past summer. He said he always had and with school out you had plenty of time to spend on badges you were really interested in. So my son looked through the list and came up with some he was excited to work on (aside from what he did at summer camp). When he asked his Scoutmaster about working on them he got very angry and said boys couldn’t work on badges individually and all needed to be done as a group. Let me say this again – he was visibly angry. The badges they usually work on during the school year are eagle required and what I would call ’standards”. I thought there were so many badge choices to encourage boys to pursue what they were individually interested in not just the standards like safety, camping etc. The SM reaction has really dampened my son’s desire to continue and he is a star scout soon to be life scout.
Our local park authority put out a flyer of merit badge programs they are offering are those only available to scouts whose SM approves? When our daughter was in Girl Scouts they were always supportive of badge work. Our nephew was in a different state do the rules vary?
L. Scott Williams ,Scoutmaster, Woodbadge trained Says:
10 September 2010 at 12:27 pm.
Your nephew can work on any merit badge he wants to! I’m a Woodbadge trained scoutmaster of Troop 374 in Providence, Utah. I’ve been scouting for over 20 years. Your nephew’s SM needs to get to Roundtable and get trained! Don’t forget that a great way to earn extra badges is to get them signed off from school teachers. Some of these are: Scholarship, Computers, Art, Theater, Public Speaking, Sports, Athletics, Reading, and Citizenship in the Nation and World. If your nephew’s scoutmaster has the guts, have him call my council (Trapper Trails) and ask for Elkhorn district roundtable commissioner Williams. I’ll be glad to set him strait. Your nephew can work all of the merit badges the local park staff offers as well. Happy Scouting! Scott
Peter M. Thompson Says:
23 March 2011 at 1:06 am.
I agree Mr. L. Scott Williams , I am an Eagle Scout ,earned it while I was still 13, Received it at my Ceremony with three other of my friends right after I turned 14. The others were Michael Raybon, Stanley Cooley, and Scott Branton. Troop 2 Picayune , Ms. 1973 Pine Burr Council. The three of us Michael, Stanley, and myself all were born within a week of each other, Scott was several months older. We worked hard and earn palms also. I am working on my 45 year in Scouting and I too am a Unit Commissioner. I’ve been Asst. Scout Master, Scout Master, Roundtable Commissioner, Wood Badge, Vigil Member Order of the Arrow,you get the idea. The regulations specifically state that you may not alter the requirements for any badge in any way. To put it bluntly, you cannot make them easier, or harder, you can not impose age restrictions that are not there or time requirements of any sorts . NO CHANGES . The only exceptions are for special needs that are stated in the training manuals . I too on many occassion have run into the so called Leader/ Merit Badge Advisor, AND DISTRICT EXECUTIVES that feel they have the right to impose age limits where there are none. I am now in the Mobile Area Council and had a District Executive tell me the Person running the merit badge could put restrictions on who took the course. Again this was Personal Management. My son was 12 and at Winter camp was not allowed in the class because he was not 14 years old. He was short of his Eagle by about 3 maybe 4 of the Eagle required bages,the 6 months leader position, and his Eagle Ser vice project. They had age 14 up in the class that were several ranks below my son and no where close to Eagle. This was questioned by myself and I was told that was going to be how it was. We wasted the Winter camp because my son got merit badges that he did not need to advance in rank. The District Executive ok’d this. Needless to say. It has been reported to the Main Council Executive and neither My son nor myself will go or help with Winter Camp again. You can work on EVERY Merit badge at one time if you want, it probably isn’t a good idea but you can take 2 or 3 years on a single badge if you want, as long as it does not go past your 18th birthday. Then again there are the special needs group. So son you get everything Scouting has to offer and know that you are the better person by following the rules and earning them as you should. I hope to see you one day defending the boys you will be leading as an Eagle Scout also . Good luck and God Speed.
Will Says:
14 October 2011 at 2:36 am.
Gents,
Until Natioanl BSA hold people accountable (fire people/remove unit charter/etc) then these stories about challenge your leadership is a complete waste. I think BSA purposely stay out of the debate when they can in order to keep membership up. Like it or not, BSA is political now and all things political is local.
Brian Says:
17 November 2011 at 3:13 am.
Every Scout needs to be evaluated individually when they want to begin a merit badge. Some Scouts just are not ready to tackle the more challenging MB (a freshly-bridged Scout is rarely ready for Emergency Preparedness or Personal Managment), so I ask all Scouts before I give them a blue-card if they have talked it over with thier parents (and I confirm said conversation happend). If the parents are OK with thier son taking a challenging MB and willing to deal with any fallout due to failure to complete, then so be it. But if I have any reservations about the Scouts ability I make it known to the parent. Parental involvment is key. Admitedly I’ve not run across a 1st Year Scout wanting to do much more than earn firemen Chit/totin chip and go camping. Mastering the Scout skills for TF-1CL are more important than MB for new Scouts-it provides the foundation Scouting is supposed to instill, it boosts confidence as they advance, provides the motivation to stay in Scouting when it gets tougher (working toward the honor ranks while dealing with sports and girls). But back to my original point, if the parents are not behind the Scout in his MB endevors then there’s no not much chance the challenge will be met (generally speaking of course). Failure is an outstanding learning tool (who hasn’t had sloppy joes without the meat, or had cold meals because the boys didn’t check thier fuel status?), but simply allowing potentially serious psycological letdown just because the rule book says so is irresponsible. If a Scout can’t perform 2CL first aid, whats the point of Personal Managment? Takes more than MB to build Character.
