The Daily Ardmoreite. [volume] (Ardmore, Okla.) 1893-current, 1919-09-11
WHY A BOY SCOUT
COUN Gil IS NEEDED
IN LARGER CITIES

In communities where there is room
for only one or two troops of scouts,
council is not an actual necessity, al
though in order to give the boys the
most benefit from the work every
community that has even one scout
troop should endeavor TO have coun-
ell of men back Of IT,
In towns such as Ardmore, where
there is rom for ten or more troops,
it is impossible to carry on the work sat
isfactorily without the council. In gen
eral, it may be said that the local coun-
ell, as the chartered representative Of
the national scout council, is under the
same obligation and responsibility to
the congress, and TO the people Of the
United States, as is the national coun-
ell.
1t must. therefore, promote through
organization and cooperation with 9th.
er agencies the ability OF boys to do
things for themselves and others. TO
train them in sooutcraft. and to teach
them patriotism, courage, selfrehance
and kindred virtues"
This can be accomplished by the use
Of methods which are now familiar to
boy scouts and by placing emphasis up.
| on the Scout Oath and Law" for char
acter development citizenship training
and physical fitness. The local coun-
ell thus becomes one OF the necessary
cog wheels in our national and commu-
nifty life. Through it's leadership, or.
ganization and definite program the 10
cal council undertakes to meet large
responsibility for the conservation, safe.
guarding, development and training of
the boyhood within its community.
The local council does these things
through it's officers, its executive com
mittee and its court of honor. OF these
officers and committees. the only ones
who are in active every day touch with
the scout work are the scout commits.
sioner and the scout executive
The duties Of the executive commit
tee are much the same as a like com
mittee in any other organization. The
duties of the Court of Honor are more
complex, and the members Of this com
mitteo are, from time to time, thrown
into active touch with each individual
scout They conduct the examinations
of scouts who are cndeavoring TO quail.
ify for merit badges, which represent a
part OF the scout work in which the boys
engage after they have reached the
grade Of first class scout. Naturally a
| body Of three. five or seven men cannot
be authority upon such wide variety of
subjects. 80 in these examinations ex-
perts in the particular line of endeavor
| involved are asked to assist in the eX.
| animation. Thus when a scout qualities
for a merit badge for first aid, he does
50 under the eye Of a physician and sur
geon who can easily tell whether or not
the boy has a working knowledge of the
subject.
Conducting the work thus. under the
supervision of a local council insures n
uniformity of standards for the various
tests which could not be accomplished
if each troop was forced TO work alone.
The combination of study and active
fun, in the great outdoors which appeals
to every boy, is what makes scouting
50 attractive and 80 useful After a
full boy size day Of active outdoor life
swimming, tree climbing, bee fighting.
snake killing rock throwing. red blooded
fun, when the troop gathers around the
campfire after supper, with the rest of