The herald., 1922-06-08

SCOUTS
e.
Conducted by National Council OF the Boy
Scouts of America)
PATROL UNIT IN SCOUTING

So frequently it is stated by scout
executives in reply TO the question why
more churches in the community do
not have Boy scout troops, that many
of the churches are too small to have
d 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-
ception of troop of from "A To 81
boys? True, there are many of the
smaller churches which find IT hard
to muster that many boys above
twelve years Of age, and because of
this some scout leaders consider such
church as lacking the opportunity
for troop organization, many suggest
ing that several such churches combine
and form q troop. The latter plan,
however, seldom works out salts
factOrily because the troop lacks the
identity it should have in the church
| of which the boy is member or with
which he is identified.
The error in assuming that the
church which cannot supply a suf-
| ficient number of boys TO make up
| full troop cannot organize for scout
ing is due in part at least to failure
10 emphasize the patrol as the real
unit of organization. A patrol of eight
| constitutes 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
a leader and more chances Of an eff
cient program. There are men will
ing and competent TO lead eight boys
who are not willing and who are not
competent to handle a larger number.
With this point of view can there not
be 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
no stronger than the patrols which
compose ii. 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
very important factor in the manage
ment of troop. We should be more
concerned with his selection and pro
vide special opportunities for his train
ing They are, as a rule, older boys
The cultivation and utilization Of the
patrol leader constitutes one Of oul
largest opportunities for holding thu
older boy. The real appeal to tn
older boy Is not along the line OF sci
fishness through the proffer OF priv
ileges. but through the appeal to serv
ice. He is impressed by being givel
responsibilities. He loves to be lead
er. Patrol leaders conferences, patro
leaders training courses, organization
Of prospective patrol leaders should re
ceive much greater attention thai
they now receive. Here Is way, a
least in part, to meet the older DO.
problem.
And further, has enough attention
been given to the actual program
the patrols? Here is where we ma
learn much from our English scou
friends. Baden-Powell is always re
ferring to the patrol, its leadership an
program. He seeks constantly to er
logic its work, to emphasize Its pre-
gram, to humanize its detectives. to d.
clare its Importance.
The patrol is the real unit OF scout
Ing. 1t brings the program Of scou
ing close to the boy. AS go the ps
trolls so goes scouting. May we In
prove the quality of their program.