Rocky Ford enterprise., 1912-01-12
BOY SCOUT
~ '''1i MOVEMENT
Attracting the Attention of
Rocky Ford Youth
SOME INFORMATION
ABOUT ORGANIZATION
Public Meeting VIII Likely be Called
to Determine Whether Our
School District VIII Take
Up Movement

AS announced last week the
Enterprise herewith gives some
information about the boy scout
movement, that we believe will be
of interest to our readeas.
Until our attention was called
,, to the desirability Of local coun-
Gil by r. P. Collins, we had sup
posed that the Boy Scouts were
military organization. solely for
the purpose of inculcating patriot
ism in our young people. but we
have learned that it is vastly
more than this, for it is intended
to teach self-reliance, thrift and
manly attributes.
There is a call for the scout move
ment because the boys in our modern
life, and especially in our cities and
villages. do not have the chance, as
did the boys of the past, most of
whom grew up in the country, to be-
come strong, self-reliant, resourceful,
and helpful, and to get acquainted
with nature and outdoor life, without
special guidance and training. There
fore the movement brings the boys
together in patrols and troops, and
seeks to cultivate in them courage,
loyalty, patriotism, fellowship. self
control, courtesy, kindness to ami
mails, usefulness, cheerfulness, clean
liness. thrift, purity. and honor. 1t
believes that with such training
American boys will. as men. be lead
ers in progress, peace, and all things
right and good.
In its relation to other organiza-
tions, scouting is a movement rather
than an organizations; for it is the de-
sire of the promoters of the Boy
Scouts of America to supplement-
rather than supplant the activities of
other organizations, by widening.
deepening, and vitalizing every point
of contact which the other organiza-
tions seek with the boys life. In
deed, the experience has almost been
universal that these other organiza-
tions welcome the formation of boy
scout patrols in their membership,
and social and religious leaders of
boys state that scouting widens the
scope OF their influence.
As an organization the scout move
ment is neither military in thought,
form. or spirit. although it does in
still in boys the military virtues, such
as honor, loyalty, obedience, and pat
riotism. The uniform, the patrol, the
troop, and the drill are not for mill
tary tactics; they are for the unity.
the harmony. and the rythm of spirit
that boys learn in scouting. 1t is in
the wearing of the uniform and do
ing OF things together, as scouts.
that they absorb the force and truth
of the scout law which states: "a
scout is friend of all. and brother
to every other scout"
The movement stands for patriot
ism, the patriotism that causes the
boy to love his country. and instead
OF boasting about it, serve it by be-
ing good citizen.
The movement aims to supplement
the various existing educational agen-
cies. and to promote the ability in
boys to do things for themselves and
others. 1t is not the aim to set UP
new organization to parllel in its
purposes others already established.
The opportunity is afforded these or
ganizations, however, to introduce in
to their programs unique features ap-
pealing to interests which are uni
versal among boys. The method is
summed up in the term Scoutcraft,
and is a combination of observation,
deduction, and hardness. or the abil-
ity to do things. Scoutcraft includes
instruction in First Aid, Life Saving,
Tracking. Signaling. Cycling, Nature
Study, Seamanship. Campcraft,
Woodcraft, Chivalry. Patriotism, and
other subjects. This is accomplish
ed in games and team play, and is
pleasure, not work, for the boy. All
that is needed is the t-of-doors, a
group OF boys. and a competent lead
er.
Something to do. something to
think about, and something to enjoy
with view always to character
building. for manhood. not scholar
ship. is the first aim of education.
The promotion of the boy scout
movement has been recognized as a
community asset. 1t is the commun-
ity's opportunity to reach the boy for
good citizenship. The organization
of the Local Council and the prog
ress of its activities, as related to
scouting. is evidence to the boy. who
knows the scout program, that the
community is interested in him: not
only interested in his education (by
compelling him to attend the public
school in order that he may be prop
erly trained for his citizenship duties
later on). but interested in his play
a1en tghs,, ,hat l.,, Il.