Roanoke Rapids herald. [volume] (Roanoke Rapids, N.C.) 1914-192?, 1922-02-10
PATROL UNIT IN SCOUTING

executives In reply TO the question why
more churches In the community Dc
not have Boy scout troops, that many
OF the churches are too small to have
troop, writes John NJ. Gore. Scout
Executive, Knoxville Tenn. They
haven't enough boys of scout age. Is
not such a reply based upon the con-
cepti0n of a troop Of from "A to 81
boys? True, there are many of the
smaller churches which find 1t hard
to muster that many boys above
twelve years Of age and because Of
this some scout leaders consider such
a church as lacking the opportunity
for troop organization, many suggest
Ing that several such churches combine
and form troop. The latter plan,
however, seldom works out salts
factorily because the troop lacks the
identity II should have in the church
Of which the boy is n member or with
which he Is identified.
The error in assuming that the
church which cannot supply suf-
ficient number of boys to make up
full troop cannot organize for scout
ing is due in part at least TO failure
TO emphasize the patrol as the real
unit of organization. A patrol of eight
constitutes a large enough group to
provide excellent opportunity for good
scouting. In fact, the smaller number
has particular advantages. There Is
more likelihood of success in securing
leader and more chances of an eff
cicnt program. There are men will.
ing and competent to lead eight boys
who are not willing and who are not
competent 10 handle a larger number
With this point OF view can there not
ba organized groups OF boys in many
churches where they are not now or.
ganized and where 1t has been thought
impossible to organize them?
This leads us to declare that In
other ways the patrol has not been
adequately emphasized. A troop is
M stronger than the patrols which
compose It. The patrols offer excel
lent opportunities for grading within the
troops. They afford the maximum op.
portunity for developing older boy
leadership. The patrol leader is a
very important factor In the manage
ment Of troop. We should he more
with his selection and pro-
vide special opportunities for his train.
Ing. They are, as rule older boys. |
The cultivation end utilization of the |
Datrol leader constitutes one OF our
argest opportunities for holding the
'lder boy. The real appeal to the
)lder boy Is not along the line of sell
ishness through the prefer of priv
legeS, hut through the appeal to serv-
&c. He IS impressed by being given
He loves TO be a lead
r. Patrol leaders conferences, patrol
eaders training courses, organization
4 prospective patrol leaders should re-
Give much greater attention than
Ley now receive. Here is way. at
EAST In part, to meet the older boy
roblcm.
And further, has enough attention
cen given to the actual program of
he patrols? Here Is where we may
'arn much from our English scout
riends Baden-PoWell is always re-
prring to the patrol, It's leadership and
rogram. lie seeks constantly TO eu-
,gize its work, to emphasize Its pro
ram, to humanlze its detectives, to de-
are It's importance.
The patrol Is the real unit OF scout
X. 1t brings the program of scout
lg close 10 the boy. As go the pa
oils so goes scouting May we inn
rove the quality of their program.