[Ansteorra] Cookies and merit badges

Mon May 22 08:32:05 PDT 2006

As a relative newcomer to the SCA, only 3 years now, I too would support a 
badge program for the children.  I was in Caid for a short time, and they 
have The Oak Guild, where children can earn different "badges" for work and 
time volunteered.  I spent some time , before I left Caid, extending this 
program and developing one that could be used at any future Kingdom or 
Barony that we would move to.  It is sitting in my office collecting dust, 
however; I would love to see something that the would involve the children 
to a level that the SCA would remain an interest for them.  Children need 
the the positive reinforcement more often to let them know that there help 
is noticed and appreciated.  It can only encourage the youth to maintain a 
positive and healthy outlook for not only SCA life, but mundane life as 
well.  And give them goals to strive for and achieve,which is always good.

Elspeth

>From: "Judie Willey" <littledragon0861 at gmail.com>
>Reply-To: "Kingdom of Ansteorra - SCA, Inc." 
><ansteorra at lists.ansteorra.org>
>To: "Kingdom of Ansteorra - SCA, Inc." <ansteorra at lists.ansteorra.org>
>CC: Ansteorra List <ansteorra at ansteorra.org>
>Subject: Re: [Ansteorra] Cookies and merit badges
>Date: Mon, 22 May 2006 09:46:12 -0500
>
>Ahh good I was waiting for someone to bring up the Children before I put in
>my 2 shekels worth...
>
>*I think the merit badge idea is good for the children's ministry...*
>****
>Over the many years ( 25 +) I have been in the SCA and having raised 4 kids
>in the Society I have been waiting for this to finally come about.
>You would always hear rumors about a "badge program" for the kids  but then
>nothing wold ever come of it. All too often our Youth who are not 
>interested
>in Boffers are left out and forgotten about...or they are fobbed off with
>coloring books and crayons , until they become teens and develope their own
>interests in "period" arts or sciences. I feel that it is this reason that
>so many drop away from the SCA once they are of an age where their parents
>cant force them to go to events.
>I have seen this happen in my former Kingdom all too often as well as 
>having
>had the personal experience with seeing my neice and nephew turn away from
>the SCA to the point of actually despising the group.
>
>I personally feel that the badge program is an essentialthing if we are to
>keep our youth interested in the SCA...after all without them what will we
>have in the future when we are too old to play anymore. I would encourage
>...nay beg ...all of you for not only your support of the program, but to
>find your nearest MOC and offer your services in teaching classes for these
>badges. I also feel that somehow children raised in the SCA ( even the ones
>who grow away from it) if they are taught the courtesies tend to bring
>those courtesies and values with them to real life and treat others with a
>bit more respect. Mind you  I can say the same for kids raised in Scouts 
>for
>the most part. They are just taught to treat people right.
>
>OK now I will get off my soapbox.
>
>I do agree that their are many out there who only do an activity for the
>honours and recognition they will recieve for said activity. I know of a
>Baron and Baroness ( again in my former Kingdom) who only wanted the
>position for the title, power and the gifts they expect to receive... and
>who so much as said that the big reason for doing it was because of all the
>cool things people will give them . This particular couple not only was
>arrogent enough to begin referring to themselves as Baron and Baroness
>several months before the actually were invested...but to also set up a 
>page
>on the Baronial website with their likes and dislikes and "wishes" for what
>they should be gifted with as though they are Royals stepping up to the
>throne. I have also heard individuals complain how they havent been
>recognized for this or that award when seeing either their art or their
>fighting and attitude I could see why they wouldnt be recognized. ( again
>not in Ansteorra)
>
>We as people not necessarily just in the SCA  crave that recogition and 
>want
>those Attaboys...even when we dont deserve them. For many of us a simple
>Thank You is enough...and then when we do receive something bigger for our
>efforts it becomes that much more special to us.
>
>Again I apologize for not only being long winded...but if I came across as
>preachy:)
>
>YIS
>Rebbe Hadassah Sarai bas Yossi
>MoC Steppes
>
>
>On 5/21/06, Jean Paul de Sens <jeanpauldesens at gmail.com> wrote:
>>
>>Due to the long drive home this afternoon, Gilyan and I landed upon the
>>subject of "cookies and merit badges" and wondered at the negative
>>connotation associated with such things.  So we're wondering:
>>
>>What's wrong with merit badges?  What about the system is offensive and/or
>>wrong?
>>
>>
>>Jean Paul
>>
>>P.S., please try to keep the "I like chocolate chip" responses to a
>>minimum as I'm genuinely curious about this question.
>>
>>
>>
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>>Ansteorra mailing list
>>Ansteorra at lists.ansteorra.org
>>http://lists.ansteorra.org/listinfo.cgi/ansteorra-ansteorra.org
>>
>>
>>
>
>
>--
>Rebbe Hadassah Sarai bas Yossi
>MoC Barony of Steppes

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