Waxes,
It shames me to think that there are other eagles out there who cannot sharpen a blade. I can tell you that there are those I know who do not do it as well as I'd like to think they should, or care for their blades as I think they should, but I know none who could not. I also know of no healthy, balanced teenager who was afraid of a knife
What's wrong with them?
I do, however, know people involved in the boy scouts who would rather not deal with guns. They are few and far between, but I've met them. The scouts do not require that an Eagle be familiar with firearms or bows, though, were I to run a troop, I would highly encourage at _least_ a safety course. I never did, however, run into someone actively advocating that the scouts eliminate shooting programs.
The camp I was at did offer wilderness survival, though that badge has roughly the same depth as any other merit badge. Enough for the flavor, and not much else. My feeling was it primarily functioned to raise someone's comfort level, and decrease panic, should someone find themselves lost. It was a tool to keep someone cool-headed enough to be able to be found, not to enable long-term survival. Which is what any basic survival course should be. That level of survival does not need a fixed blade knife. It might have benefited, but not much. I know the classroom situation with a bunch of 10 - 16 year olds would not have benefited from the presence of fixed bladed knives.
We did have axes and saws around, and for woodcraft, those work as well as a fixed blade knife, and better for many things. I believe the 'woodscraft' badge you referred to is the Paul Bunyan patch, and it actually requires the use of an axe, and a saw, in felling, trimming, and cutting of a medium-small tree.
I guess what it comes down to, besides children and local laws, is that the need for a fixed blade knife is eliminated in fixed camping when you use hatchets or axes. Were I given the choice between an axe and a fixed blade in camp, all else equal, I'd take the axe every time.
David Vs --
Yes, the scouts still require a totin' chit to carry a knife on official activities. The basic requriements still include knowledge of safe handling and sharpening for knives, axes and saws. The 'corner' policy so often remarked upon is not an official policy, but so widespread it may as well be.
Bit of policy trivia, there is also a Fireman's Chit supposed to be earned before one builds a fire or carries firemaking supplies. I've yet to see a troop I know of to enforce this...
Stryver
