I. II. III. IV. ALLEGHENY COUNTY COUNCIL OF BOY SCOUTS OF AMERICA "BETTER SCOUTS"-"MORE SCOUTS" Every Troop to Practice the Outdoor Program. See Bulletins No. 53 and 56, Series 1918 1. At least two (2) bikes each month with total attendance of not less than 50 per cent. of Troop. 2. Each Troop to have a "Bird Feeding Program" 3. Each Troop to execute a "Pioneering Project" 4. Each Troop to camp out at least 7 days and 7 nights. Every Scout to Advance at Least One Rank. Every Troop Committee Organized and Active. Each member of Committee to have a specific duty, a regular time of visiting Troop and to report to District Committees. -See Headquarters Pamphlets Nos. 47 and 49. 400 Troops with 10,000 Scouts by December 31. January 1-179 Troops were registered with 4,242 Scouts. Each Troop averaged 24. CHAPTER IX SCOUT PROGRESS AND THE COURT OF HONOR The Scout Court of Honor is the vehicle through which the local community gives articulate approval to scouts who have made progress. It exists primarily to encourage and stimulate, to standardize and interpret, to recognize and reward the boys' effort to advance and make progress through the scout ranks and tests. Scouting however, is something infinitely more than the passing of tests and the meeting of requirements. These are the machinery of certain activities; the character building influence of the companionship with fine-qualitied men and other boys while doing these interest-gripping activities-those associations are the big and real and vital character-building things. While this chapter deals largely with mechanics, it is fitting to be ever mindful of the purpose they sub serve. Growth Growth is the natural law of normal, healthy life. When it ceases, 'tis but a short step to decline and later decay. For the boy, growth is inevitable-the question is its direction and subject matter. If he is not growing in Scouting, he is expanding his interest in some other direction. It is vital therefore for the Scout leader to keep his boys growing in Scoutcraft and Scout service, if the socially and personally useful habits involved therein, are to be developed. Progress and the Objectives of Scouting Character building and citizenship training are the two major objectives of Scouting. "Building" and "training" are dynamic, not static terms. We cannot hope to successfully build character and train for citizenship unless doing is provided-unless we stimulate and influence the Scout to progress from one grade to another. Stagnation is itself immoral-unsocialwhile purposeful activity and progress are basic in the evolution of the individual or the race. To allow a boy to become a tenderfoot, procure a badge and a uniform, and remain a tenderfoot for an undue length of time, is to encourage evil habits in the boy and to kill the spirit of the troop of which he is a member. It is true that a few boys, being lazy, are satisfied to pose as Scouts, wear the uniform and enjoy the distinction. They must be "prodded into line." The fact that a lad has taken the scout Oath and memorized the Law does not work a miracle upon him. There is nothing magic about the Scout program; it must be lived. Advancement in itself cannot insure a complete adherence to the scout principles but it has at least provided the opportunity. It is a notable fact that boys who advance consistently from rank to rank are found by their Scoutmasters and Executives as exemplifying scout principles. There is a definite and favorable connection between scout progress and true scout spirit. The Speed of Progress The initial question is, "How rapidly should a scout advance?" Here a fundamental principle may be laip down. The rate of advancement must be based upon the ability of the individual and the amount of time he can devote to his tests. There should be no lock step formation in a troop. The machinery of examination should be so flexible that a scout can pass his tests and receive his advanced badge without a long period of delay. From the point of view of the Executive, a troop without first class scouts is likely to be a drag on the movement. It has been noted by many that simultaneously with the making a first class scout there comes a new breath of life to the troop. While the Scout Handbook for Boys provides a minimum of one month's service before a tenderfoot may advance to second class and a minimum of sixty days before a second class scout may advance to first class there has been no maximum specifically established. Certain local councils, however, have set a time limit upon their scouts requiring them in some cases to complete their second class tests within six months or show reasons for having an extension of time. In some cities nine months or a year are considered a maximum for passing all tests for the first class badge. Here again it is almost impossible to lay down a hard and fast rule without interfering with the spirit of the movement. Frequently boys must work to help support the family and for that reason have only a limited amount of time to devote to their tests. Boys in high school often find their time almost completely occupied. All will agree that such boys have a right to the benefits of the scout program even though they may be able to advance but slowly. Here it should be borne in mind that consistent advancement, as conditioned by the Scout's mentality and surroundings, is the working rule. Advancement Scout progress involves paying considerable attention to the proportion of tenderfoot, second class, first class and merit badge scouts. In the first ten years of Scouting in America approximately 6% of the 950,000 boys enrolled during that time reached the first class rank. About 20% reached second class, leaving about 70% in the tenderfoot stage. Coming to the higher degrees we find that one scout in about 300 reached the rank of life and star while one in about 600 earned the coveted eagle badge. In the second decade, experience, new ideals and better training should make possible a much better record. The scoutmaster is the keyman in effecting progress, though an active troop-committee can help. tremendously. What percentage of the scouts enrolled by a council should be first class? The age of the council, the efficiency of preceding years, the attitude of the community toward Scouting-these and other factors will be present. The following table is one Executive's judgment as to class distribution. The table may be useful as a point of departure in 'establishing one's own minimum working proportion recognizing of course that "age of council" means different things in different cases: Stimulating Advancement a) Morale or Troop spirit is one very certain channel through which progress may be enhanced. The leader who can create and maintain a fine spirit in his group will find the advancement of his boys a relatively easy matter. If in starting the troop there is action and movement and growth from the start the boy easily forms the growing habit! Troop and patrol pride may be invoked to achieve and maintain standards. b) The Example of growth A growing scout leader can himself accomplish much through example. Telling, e. g. of scouts who have mastered all the merit badges or many of them often stimulates other boys to "start." |