Dift U.S. Dept. Flate 4-11-1935-1 LETTER OF TRANSMITTAL HEADQUARTERS NATIONAL COUNCIL, BOY SCOUTS OF AMERICA, The SPEAKER OF THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES, Washington, D. C. SIR: In accordance with the act of June 15, 1916, entitled "An act to incorporate the Boy Scouts of America, and for other purposes," I have the honor to transmit herewith a copy of the Nineteenth Annual Report of the Boy Scouts of America. The following are appended including reports which show in detail the operations of all departments of the Boy Scouts of America: 1. Report of the chief scout executive. 2. Report of treasurer. 3. Report of finance committee. 4. Report of national court of honor. 5. Report of committee on badges, awards, and scout require ments. 6. Report of the committee on foreign relations. 7. Report of the committee on interracial activities. 8. Reports of departments: (a) Field; (b) education; (c) camping; (d) sea scout; (e) editorial; (f) publicity; (g) Boys' Life, the Boy Scouts' magazine; (h) library; (i) supply; (j) rural scouting; (k) personnel. 9. Reports of the troop service department and membership analysis. 10. Awards of the silver buffalo. 11. List of members, officers, and committees. Respectfully yours, BOY SCOUTS OF AMERICA, Chief Scout Executive. III NINETEENTH ANNUAL REPORT OF THE BOY SCOUTS OF AMERICA FOR THE YEAR 1928 OUR AIMS AND IDEALS The world interest in the Boy Scout movement challenges the intelligent understanding of everyone, and yet many people still ask, "What is scouting?" "What do Boy Scouts do?" The Boy Scout idea is a movement rather than an organization. It aims to supplement existing organizations, such as the home, church, and school, by engaging the boys' leisure energies in outdoor games and activities of cultural and practical value. The aim of the scout movement is to inculcate character, which, though essential to success in life, is not taught within the school, and being largely a matter of environment is too generally left to chance, often with deplorable results. The scout movement endeavors to supply the required environment and ambitions through games and outdoor activities, which lead a boy to become a better man, a good citizen. WHAT SCOUTING IS Scouting is the process of making real men out of real boys by a real program which works. Scouting is outdoor life, and so health, strength, happiness, and practical education. By combining wholesome, attractive, outdoor activities with the influence of the scout oath and law, the movement develops character. It develops the power of initiative and resourcefulness. It insures good citizenship. The Boy Scout movement healthfully and sanely offsets the disadvantages which civilization has caused. CONSERVATION OF BOYHOOD Conservation of our natural resources is universally approved, but of what value would material resources be unless we conserve the moral, intellectual, and physical future of the coming generation? Prevention is recognized as better and less expensive than cure. The Boy Scout movement takes the boy at that time of life when he is beset with the new and bewildering experiences of adolescence and diverts his thought therefrom to wholesome and worth-while activities. In this manner our character-building movement has done much in numerous cities to diminish the problem of juvenile delin quency. 1 The war brought with it a relaxation of moral fiber, which is disastrous to youth unless offset by powerful positive influences. Scouting is just such a powerful, positive, counteracting influence. Its program offers an answer to the boy problem which proves— "DOING IS LEARNING" We want to help boys on leaving school to escape the evils of "blind alley" occupations-that is, such work as gives the boy a mere wage for the moment but leaves him stranded without any trade or handicraft to pursue when he is a man, and so sends him as a recruit to the great army of unemployed and, what is worse, the unemployable. "Doing is learning," and when a scout in the formative stage of his life has this lesson thoroughly impressed upon his mind he has learned to be resourceful. The simple help-yourself experience which a scout receives in his impressionable years prepares him to meet emergencies covering the entire range of existence which may develop later in his life. SCOUT-CRAFT INSTRUCTION Scout craft includes instruction in first aid, life-saving, tracking, signaling, cycling, nature study, seamanship, camp craft, woodcraft, chivalry, and all of the handicrafts. In scouting the boy does not stand still. The opportunity and incentive and progress are always at hand. He first becomes a tenderfoot (see scout oath and requirements of different classes set forth in Handbook for Boys), then a secondclass scout, and then a first-class scout. After this the whole sphere of the scout program is made available by the boy's own application in qualifying himself to pass the tests of the various merit badges. A boy takes up a hobby with the same zest that he plays tennis or football, and that hobby may become his trade. In other words, a boy has transferred his efforts from idle play or harmful mischief to vital achievements. And when the boy has learned to think constructively through the agency of play his problems are greatly simplified and his life more worth the living. SCOUT NUMBERS AND NEEDS Over 625,000 boys are now registered scouts. In addition to this, there are probably twice as many more boys who are more or less actively following out the scout program, because they have at some time within the last 17 years come within the influence of scout training. They pay their own expenses, but must be directed, taught, and helped. Over 48,000 clean men-largely college bred-are scoutmasters and assistants. Another 140,000 men and over act as councilmen and troop committeemen. They receive no pay, but they must be carefully selected, and stimulated by healthful publications and field work. No expensive equipment is required. All that is needed is the out of doors, a group of boys, and a competent leader. NEITHER MILITARY NOR ANTIMILITARY As an organization the scout movement is not military in thought, form, or spirit, although it does instill in boys the military virtues, such as honor, loyalty, obedience, and patriotism. The uniform, the patrol, the troop, and the drill are not for military tactics; they are for the unity, the harmony, and the rhythm of spirit that boys learn in scouting. It is in the wearing of the uniform and doing of things together as scouts that they absorb the force and truth of the scout law, which states: "A scout is a friend to all, and a brother to every other scout.' While the spirit of scouting is not militaristic, the experiences of the last years have completely demonstrated that outdoor scout training with its cooking, camping, hiking, signaling, map reading, wireless, electricity, knowledge of woodcraft, and ability to care for one's self in the open helps immeasurably in fitting a man for the duties of a soldier. While scouting as a teen-age boy program very properly is not militaristic from a technical standpoint, it is, however, patriotic, as proven by the wonderful record of scout nation-wide civic service, as well as a notable postwar service as youthful citizens. RELIGIOUS POLICY Scouting presents greater opportunities for the development of the boy religiously than does any other movement instituted solely for boys. Its aim to develop the boy physically, mentally, and morally is being realized very widely. The movement has been developed on such broad lines as to embrace all classes, all creeds, and at the same time to allow the greatest possible independence to individual organizations, officers, and boys. The Boy Scouts of America maintain that no boy can grow into the best kind of citizenship without recognizing his obligation to God. The recognition of God as the ruling and leading power in the universe and the grateful acknowledgment of His favors and blessings are necessary to the best type of citizenship and are wholesome things in the education of the growing boy. No matter what the boy may be-Catholic or Protestant or Jew-this fundamental need of good citizenship should be kept before him. The Boy Scouts of America as an organized body therefore recognizes the religious element in the training of a boy, but it is absolutely nonsectarian in its attitude toward that religious training. Its policy is that the religious organization or institution with which the Boy Scout is connected shall give definite attention to this religious life. If he be a Roman Catholic Boy Scout, the church of which he is a member is the best channel for his training. If he be a Hebrew boy, then the synagogue will train him in the faith of his fathers. If he be a Protestant, no matter what denomination of Protestantism he may belong, the church of which he is an adherent or a member should be the proper organization to give him an education in the things that pertain to his allegiance to God. |