This has been around quite a while.
The number of Scouts who make Eagle changes periodically.
The number listed was reported as accurate in 1998.
Probably some of the other statistics have changed
also, but the impact is still the same.
Of any one hundred boys who become Scouts,
it must be confessed that thirty will drop out in
their first year. Perhaps this may be regarded as
a failure, but later in life, all of these will remember
that they had been in Scouting and will speak well
of the program.
Of the one hundred, only rarely will
one ever appear before a juvenile court judge. Twelve
of the one hundred will be from families that belong
to no church. Through Scouting, these twelve and many
of their families will be brought into contact with
a church and will continue to be active all their
lives. Six of the one hundred will become pastors.
Each of the one hundred will learn something
from Scouting, and all will develop hobbies that will
add interest throughout the rest of their lives. Approximately
one-half will serve in the military, and in varying
degrees, profit from their Scout training. At least
one will use it to save another person's life, and
many may credit it for saving their own.
Four of the one hundred will reach Eagle
rank, and at least one will later say that he valued
his Eagle above his college degree. Many will find
their future vocation through merit badge work and
Scouting contacts. Seventeen of the one hundred boys
will become adult leaders and will give leadership
to thousands of additional boys.
One in four boys in America will become
Scouts, but it is interesting to know that of the
leaders of this nation in business, religion and politics,
three out of four were Scouts.
This story will never end. Like the
'Golden Pebble' of service dropped into the human
sea, it will continue to radiate in ever-widening
circles, influencing the characters of men through
unending time."
Another
way of saying this is:
Of 100 Boys in Scouting -
*
Only rarely will one appear in juvenile court.
* 12 will receive their first church contact through
Scouting.
* 5 will receive church religious emblems.
* 1 will enter the clergy due to his Scouting relationships.
* 18 will develop hobbies that will give them a lifelong
interest.
* 8 will find their future life vocations.
* 1 will use Scout skills to save another's life.
* 1 will credit Scout skills with saving his own life.
* 2 of the 100 will reach the Eagle Rank.
* 17 will later become leaders in Scouting and will
pass on their skills, inspiration and leadership to
countless youth.
A
comparative study of the records of Scouts and non-Scouts
in a sampling of schools and colleges shows that Scouts
hold most of the major positions of leadership in
the student body. The survey resulted in the following
statistics in regard to school officers bearing a
large amount of responsibility.
*
Of senior class presidents, 89% were Scouts.
* Of junior class presidents, 80% were Scouts.
* Of business managers of school publications, 75%
were Scouts.
* Of student council presidents, 85% were Scouts.
* Of school newspaper editors, 88% were Scouts.
* Of editors of school annuals, 77% were Scouts.
* Of basketball captains, 64% were Scouts.
Numbered among the alumni of the Boy
Scouts of America are:
* 64% of Air Force Academy graduates.
* 58% of West Point graduates.
* 70% of Annapolis graduates.
* 72% of Rhodes scholars.
* 85% of FBI agents.
* 26% of the 29 U.S. astronauts.
I have received emails from people asking if I could provide
any references to support the statistics. Unfortunately I do not remember where
I got the statistics, I believe they were listed on the official scouting
website scout.org about ten years ago but they no longer have that page on their site.