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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 edu-
cators 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 recom-
pense 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:
1. An individual who would feel that the power to iden-
tify 25 birds is enough reward for the study given up to
such identification, is an ideal figure.
2. Weare all aiming to be and to train ideal figures.
3. The world has not yet reached the stage where all are
ideal figures; some of us are still human.
4. In order to compass quickest results, we must deal
with humanity as we find it, not as we would like it to be.
5. Human nature, as it exists, demands some sort of
recognition for its efforts.
6. 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
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