The Republican journal. [volume] (Belfast, Me.) 1829-current, 1912-01-04
Boy Scouts in Schools.

Boards of Education and superintend-
ents Of public schools in many States
throughout the country have endorsed
the Boy Scout movement as a supple
niens to the work of the class room. and
are furthering the organization of the
Boy Scout troops. While scouting ac-
tivities furnish certain amount of dis
cipline and drill those features so far as
the educators are concerned are not of
the greatest Importance, because drill
and discipline are supplied in the class
room. But the important factor in the
eyes Of school teachers and professors is
the systematic supervision supplied by
scout masters over the boys play. In
other words, if the boys are taught to
play thoroughly, to paddle canoe right,
to swim correctly, to follow a trail, and
to stalk birds, such system in play un-
doubtedly means system and thorough
ness in study. Furthermore, the edu-
Gators believe that for a few years at
least, it is as vitality important to watch
over the boys when at play as it is to
supervise their study.
1t is estimated that about $50 teachers
and superintendent of schools have Or
gained Boy Scout troops and that there
are at least 300 troops formed among the
boys in the schools throughout the coun-
try. While these troops are not officially
connected with the schools, yet the boys
of one troop are all members of the same
school room or the same school building.
Furthermore, educators although not
having organized troops within their own
schools are promoting the scout move
ment in connection with settlement
work. Sunday School work, boys clubs
and athletic organizations.
The scout movement appeals to edu-
Gators for still another reason. 1t en-
( abies them to become friends of the boys.
The situation is different from the school
room, and the necessity of maintaining
discipline requires that the teacher be
stern and commanding, holding himself
aloof from the boys, and attempting as
it were to stimulate the boys from a
superior position. In scouting, however,
/ the teacher as scout master becomes the
| boys friend and advisor, engaging in
games with them, and perhaps being
surpassed by the more clever of the boys
in.various athletic games or in contests
where alertness is the chief feature.
Furthermore, he is the boys confidant
and while he is their trainer, he also is
their fast friend.
| In New York troops of scouts have beer
organized in many schools. For instance.
I in Public School No. GA at 9th Street anc
/ Avenue B, Scout Master N. Filfuss anC
Assistant Scout Master M. Flann, have
troops Of scouts. In Public School No.
II, at 314 West 18th Street, Scout Mas.
ter H. l. Shimberg is teacher and ir
Public School No. II, New Brighton, S.
L. Scout Master L. A. Toepp is teacher.
/ In Washington the Board of Educa.
( tion has taken up the scout movement
t DR.. William N. Davidson, superintend
ert OF schools, has given permit to the
Emery school to organize troop. The
only restraint which he placed on the
formation of scout troops in the schools
is that every troop must be under the
direct supervision of the school officials
and OF competent persons. Other schoo
officials interested in the work in Wash
lngton are Ernest L. Thurston, assistant
superintendent of schools, A. 7. Stewart
director of intermediate instruction, Ros
coe e. Bruce, assistant superintendent Of
schools.
In Philadelphia, many scout troops
have been organized in the public schools.
Pupils in the Charswood Ware, Campbell
and Nebinger Public Schools have organ.
lied troops. Thomas Aston, principal Of
public school in McAlester, Okla. has
taken up the scout work. Captain j. w.
Ware, instructor of the Summer Naval
School in Indiana, is also teaching scout
ing.
Mr.. George H. Niedlinger, of East
Orange, N. j., writes: Zone Of the most
important results in connection with our
scout movement hos hoou Tho I;fEovo,,o.