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EXPERIENCES OF OTHER COUNCILS

Los Angeles, Cal.

"We are formulating plans for launching permanent schools for training leaders to be called "SCHOOL OF THE THEORY AND PRACTICE OF SCOUTING." Students may enter in time and graduate as soon as course is finished. Will_embrace training of Patrol Leaders, Scoutmasters, Troop Committeemen. Local council will conduct. We do not believe in farming this phase of the job to a local university or any other educational institution. This conclusion has been reached in a measure on basis, and the testimony of educators (spread broadcast by National Headquarters) to wit, in substance that the content and arrangement of the program of Scouting, and the Philosophy of education and pedagogy involved, are far ahead of the present thing found in orthodox education and the average institution of learning. Still we shall draw upon local institutions and learning, we plan to "gear" our school more intimately to Scouting than seems possible through any plan of subordination to the traditional procedure of the average school or college."

Oshkosh, Wis.

"Ran a Scoutmasters' Training Course at the State Normal School where students get college credits for work. Used the Troop Committees to help select men. Last year's course ran from February to June."

Waukegan, Ill.

"We tried the novel experiment of running the scoutmasters' and patrol leaders' school under the same direction for the first year. Some Scout Executives have denounced this plan as impossible. That however, is due to the fact that they did not understand our system of working it. We probably would not do it a second year, but for the first year, it was the only thing that could be done, as we could not provide leadership for two schools.

This combination of schools was provided with 25 instructors and the program divided into four parts, first the inspirational talks which were given to the entire school; second the round table discussions, in which the scoutmasters, patrol leaders and scribes were separated into various rooms; the third, the practical scouting work, in which men and boys alike were put through knot tying, first aid, signaling, etc., under the same instructors; and fourth, the activities program, which would not have been nearly the success it was without the boys, as we all know men do not play as spontaneously as boys do unless they have the rejuvenating spirit of the boys in the game. The boys put pep and spirit into the meeting and the men give it dignity.

They each had their separate discussions and they had the practical experience of dealing with an actual group of boys. The subject material covered in the 8 week course, covered so wide a field that it was necessary to devise some scheme whereby the program could be carried out on schedule and at the same time give the students a chance to assimilate the ideas presented, which required time.

This is the most unique feature of our plan. To do this, we had every instructor prepare notes on the material to be presented. These notes were mimeographed and furnished to every student together with a folder in which to bind them. Most instructors were limited to 15 minutes for talks, or half an hour for demonstrations or activity.

The notes system has the following advantages. It assured us that the instructor had definitely prepared his material, so as to avoid wasting any of his 15 minutes by a rambling talk, or hesitation. In case the subject was not completed in the allotted time, the essential points were already in the hands of the student, so that little was lost, and the student has the opportunity of giving the subject more leisurely thought afterward, by use of the ouline.

174 different students attended this school. Of this number 65 were adult leaders and 109 boy leaders. The average attendance was 83 with the maximum of 132. 28 of the total number had a perfect record of attendance, while 82 were present 5 or more times."

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Birmingham, Ala.

"A training course following along the lines as that suggested by the Columbia University. Six lectures or rather meetings. Executive has a demonstration troop and meetings are actually held with the boys rather than talked about by the men. First the demonstration meeting—then questions and suggestions in regard to the program just completed. The training is largely for new scoutmasters and they are notified by mail or by phone. For the older scoutmasters we have the Scoutmasters' Association which meets once each month and takes up the various problems and also makes use of the demonstration troop, which enables the executive to place before the Scoutmasters his ideas as to the proper way to conduct the meetings, play new games and teach the various branches of the work. Attendance runs high among the new men in training and about 50% of the older men. To secure attendance of the older men, one scout is appointed from each troop to act as messenger and call each week at the central office for mail for his troop. There is a mobiliza

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tion scheme among these boys and when the date for the Scoutmaster meeting comes, in addition to the regular notice in the Sunday Scout Page this mobilization call is sent out and each of the messengers not only calls his scoutmaster but if he brings his scoutmaster he may come too."

The greatest opportunity and responsibility of the scout executive is that of training. In fact, Scouting itself is a system of training of which the training of adult leadership is a very important part. The scout executive then must look upon himself as an educator in every sense of the word and in his own mind he should keep before him constantly the educational approach and attack on his problems. This of course means that in the training of himself he must continually keep up his own program of training. For his own efficiency, capacity and personality will go far to giving the educational leadership, stimulation and inspiration necessary for the carrying forward of the Scouting program in the lives of the boys of his community.

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CHAPTER VII

LOCAL AND NATIONAL RELATIONSHIPS

Team Play

Scouting is not a one man individualistic game-it is a community project. Indeed the "quarter-back" who is a heady general passes the ball to someone else to carry and then helps him carry it. The fundamental social philosophy underlying Scouting is that Scouting is done by the community! Of course the actual activities are done by the boys but the community is the enabling agency. The executive, who in lone style puts over a big scouting program himself almost singlehanded is really doing his community a grave injustice. Where will they be when he is gone? They will have neither organization nor experience nor momentum! Forms of social service to be permanent must be rooted in the permanent things of community life. Individuals are not permanent.

Team play means further that the Scout Executive shall play the game squarely with all the local agencies of community life. Live and let live-help and perchance ultimately be helped. Team play with churches, homes, schools, other boy's work agenciesa readiness to cooperate all along the line is good scouting. It is seeking "to be helpful to other people at all times."

Morale

Morale is the main spring of volunteer service. It must be created through warm, unselfish human helpfulness and loyal service-it can be maintained only on the same lofty level.

The executive who cannot maintain morale in his team-play with his volunteer leaders-whose training helper and coach he is cannot meet the basic

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