In general, I agree with you – the PL (and perhaps APL) should be in charge of its patrol and be allowed to approve the requirements for T-2-1. The SPL/ASPL should sign for the troops` PLs and ROPs. In short, boys should take responsibility for the learning and development of other boys. Our squad leaders and patrol leaders help teach skills and work with the scout until he succeeds. Then, the scout demonstrates this ability to an adult leader, who then signs it (not allowed to sign your own child`s). One of my favorites was a troop where the inspection was to be done by another patrol leader. When one boy`s PL thought he was ready, he sent his patrol member to another patrol`s camp, and that patrol leader did the testing and approval. It works well when everyone is on the same page in terms of expectations and standards. It doesn`t work well if there is a lack of communication or common understanding of these standards.
It also doesn`t work well if you have adults with low basic skills, or with boys who may have reached rank but don`t have the maturity to take lower-ranking approvals seriously. On the other hand, in the larger troops, there must be some kind of delegation, otherwise the SM will be overwhelmed. These are all thoughtful suggestions – the real answer is to ask the Scout Leader and/or committee chair how these things are handled. Scout Badge All Scouts joining a troop must meet the membership requirements listed on page 4 of the Scout Handbook in order to receive the Scout badge. PL and any Scout with a star rank or higher can sign the requirements for T-2-1 (with the exception of the last 3 requirements and the swimming requirement for 1st place). S-L-E must be approved by DM or ASM (again, except for the last 3 performed by DM and the Committee). Not too complicated. In our team, the rule of thumb is that the SM, ASM or any scout who has reached the rank of first class can sign the requirements of the basic rank. Only SMs and ASMs can sign Star, Life requirements. Only the DM can sign Eagle`s requirements. Of course, the ROO is always approved by a member of the committee present.
That`s what we`re doing. The requirements for the ranks from Tenderfoot to First Class prepare you to enjoy all that Scouting has to offer. The requirements of Star, Life and Eagle are focused on serving others and developing leadership skills. Please leave it to the patrol leaders to sign progress by First Class. Let young leaders take the lead here! A Scout who wants to fulfill a promotion requirement must demonstrate to his leader that he fully masters a skill at the expected level. In a new Scout patrol, this leader may be the Deputy Scout Leader or the troop leader assigned to the patrol. Scouts in regular patrols and company patrols may be tested by adult troop leaders or by their own patrol leaders, troop leaders or other junior leaders, provided that the boy leader has already reached the rank to which the Scout aspires. Information on the requirements for the Badge of Merit can be found in the relevant brochures and in the current year`s Scout Requirements Book. Some of them should be available in your troop`s library or public library. All are available at your Scout shop or at the council trading post or at a shop that sells Scout supplies in your area. When you have finished using the badge of merit pamphlets you own, encourage many troops to donate them to the troop library.
Sometimes I wonder if things should be different. For example, the President of Advancement should not approve the requirements for the Badge of Merit. DMs and MSOs should check with the conveyor chair anyway. Scouts who have just transferred from the Cub Scouts will recognize these requirements – they are very similar to our squad`s requirements that any ASM and scout with the rank of star, life or eagle can sign the T-2-1 requirements. Only ASMs can sign higher rank requirements, and only the DM can sign an SM conference for Eagle. ASM parents and higher-ranking siblings are strongly discouraged from registering in their family members` books. @ming – “Who is considered the leader” to sign the progress belongs to the scout leader. See Four Steps in Ascension, which states: “The unit leader authorizes those who are authorized to test and pass the Scout for rank requirements. This could include their patrol leader, senior patrol leader, deputy unit leader, another scout or the unit leader himself.
In your son`s team, the scoutleader may have decided that other stellar scouts can retire. And if I were to sign such a requirement, I would certainly be present and observe when the requirement is met. The link above in this comment is also about the remedial exam you mentioned in your 2nd comment – the Scout Leaders Conference is not suitable for this. Scout On! My $0.02. It works best when boys disconnect. HOWEVER. The boy who disconnects must be strictly controlled. Once a boy has been tested and passed, he may never be tested again. You want to be strict until he dies, so it`s done.