I would definitely have to agree with you. With the internet making it so much more convenient to find answers, it is so much easier to earn merit badges. They say that only 2% of all scouts make eagle, but that number is calculated if you look at all eagles since the start of the program; if you just looked at the eagles for one recent year, the number would be more like 10%. I have gone to local merit badge fairs where eagle required merit badges are basically given to you just for being in attendance in the class.
I really do respect this accomplishment; I earned 102 myself, so I understand all of the work that has gone into earning the merit badges. I do think, though, that the publicity for this one scout earning all the merit badges has been blown way out of proportion, with several articles written about him and even interview spots on national television stations. I know two people in 8 years from the Longhorn Council that earned all of the merit badges, but the most they got was a handshake from the District Executive.
Alot of people dont realize that there is a story line behind this scout; he earned his last 60 merit badges in the last 3 months of his scout career because he promised his dying grandma that he would earn them. It makes for a good story, but someone that "earned one merit badge every three weeks until they are 18" will most likely not make headlines. With an average of one merit badge being earned every 1.5 days, it shows how easy merit badges can be earned nowadays.
One last personal observation-- having two sashes is very unnecessary; the large sashes are made to fill every merit badge.
I would definitely have to agree with you. With the internet making it so much more convenient to find answers, it is so much easier to earn merit badges. They say that only 2% of all scouts make eagle, but that number is calculated if you look at all eagles since the start of the program; if you just looked at the eagles for one recent year, the number would be more like 10%. I have gone to local merit badge fairs where eagle required merit badges are basically given to you just for being in attendance in the class.
I really do respect this accomplishment; I earned 102 myself, so I understand all of the work that has gone into earning the merit badges. I do think, though, that the publicity for this one scout earning all the merit badges has been blown way out of proportion, with several articles written about him and even interview spots on national television stations. I know two people in 8 years from the Longhorn Council that earned all of the merit badges, but the most they got was a handshake from the District Executive.
Alot of people dont realize that there is a story line behind this scout; he earned his last 60 merit badges in the last 3 months of his scout career because he promised his dying grandma that he would earn them. It makes for a good story, but someone that "earned one merit badge every three weeks until they are 18" will most likely not make headlines. With an average of one merit badge being earned every 1.5 days, it shows how easy merit badges can be earned nowadays.
One last personal observation-- having two sashes is very unnecessary; the large sashes are made to fill every merit badge.