Pokračování textu ze strany 13
… and identify another 25, all different from the first 50, you may claim another coup. But please note that, in a case like this, a second coup may not be claimed before the first grand coup is attained. None are repeaters except those so noted; and a repeater may not be claimed within six months of the first claim on that coup.
We are well aware that there is a certain group of educators who decry the awarding of any honors or the tangible recognition of any exploit, claiming that virtue 1s its own reward — the sense of accomplishment is adequate recompense for the performance of a deed.
We have considered this attitude very seriously; and by the light of much experiment and observation, have been forced to the following conclusions:
- An individual who would feel that the power to identify 25 birds is enough reward for the study given up to such identification, is an ideal figure.
- We are all aiming to be and to train ideal figures.
- The world has not yet reached the stage where all are ideal figures; some of us are still human.
- In order to compass quickest results, we must deal with humanity as we find it, not as we would like it to be.
- Human nature, as it exists, demands some sort of recognition for its efforts.
- Therefore, we signalize achievement by a mark of attainment, valueless in itself, but priceless in the spur it gives to further development. Such has been the custom of every great teacher of humanity on record.
This is the basis of our coup system; and our members very soon realize that the idea back of a piling up of coups is not the embellishment of our honor bands with pretty little feathers, but the bigger, broader thought of further attainment and fuller knowledge. Therefore, we find that, though, for instance, the coup asks for the identification of 40 wild flowers, our people are not content with claiming said coup for 40, but go on to 50 or more before they receive the coup. Thus, the award has accomplished its purpose. That boy (being human) may have started out learning wild flowers in order to be awarded another feather, but he surely ends up with the desire to know the flowers.
Such an attitude in the claiming of honors has another very practical value. When your claim is turned in to the Honors Committee, they may reject one or two of your list ..text pokračuje
