EagleParent

Thanks to all that have replied. I was deliberatly vague, but maybe too much so. This is a contensious issue before the troop committee (which I'm a member of) Two issues: One is with the writer - for this the parents consulted a lawyer. Second, is with the troop leaders who didn't inform the parents (yes they did find out accidentally). Does BSA policy require and/or expect leaders to inform the parents in such a situation. CalicoPenn has some very good questions: Letter was written to a DAC. Letter writer is a ASM. Select group was SM,ASM, and committee member. No investigation was made, even though the most libelous part was admittedly hearsy. Apparently the SM, ASM, CM told the letter writer he was out of line but didn't ask him to retract or appologize. Now the parents have found out and want to know why they weren't informed of the written attack on their child. That's really the only beef the parents have with the troop. They are worried that they can't protect their child from further attacks (from the writer who has never liked the scout's family) or damage from the first one unless they are informed. Personally I can't say I blame them, but does anyone know if the BSA has a policy on this type of situation?

Does a scout's parents have the right to know when their son has been slandered in writing by an adult in the troop? Can the leadership of the troop keep the slander quiet and just talk to the offending adult and ask them not to do it again? In this case the scout was accused in writing of 'gross moral misconduct'. The letter was sent outside of the troop and asked for the scout to be removed. Eventually the SM was informed of this letter. There followed a meeting between selected leaders and the letter writer. The letter writer was 'chastised', as the other leaders felt the complaints weren't valid or the scout had not done them. No action was ever taken against the scout. Do the parents have a legitimate reason to up upset that they weren't informed. A lawyer did look at the letter and deemed it "slanderous" and "dispicable".

There is no mention of age in the BSA regs to become an Eagle Scout. Practically there is a minimum age (join at 10-1/2, 10 outings to make FC, Star for 4 months....). My son earned his Eagle at age 14-1/2, just after he started high school. The whole Eagle Project was a fantastic lesson in leadership and maturity. As a result of his earning Eagle and the focus it took, he is a much better student. Should he have had to wait until he was a senior in HS to learn this? I certainly hope not. It may be that the adults in the troop are jealous of your son's progress. Or they may feel you have been pushing him. Once he has completed all his requirements have him ask his SM for a SM conference. NO ONE (except for the National BSA) can add or subtract from BSA advancement requirements. If the SM feels you son is not ready, the SM needs to be able to clearly state which requirement(s) you son has not met. Have HIM get his recommendations and send everything to the DAC. Good luck. There are a lot of 'young' Eagle Scouts out there.