The Bemidji daily pioneer. [volume] (Bemidji, Minn.) 1904-1971, 1922-02-27
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 to1have
a 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
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 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 suf-
1icient number Of boys to make up a
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
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 larger number.
With this poilft OF view can there not
be organized groups of boys in many
churches where they are not now Or
ganized and where it 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 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
very important factor in the manage
ment of troop. We should he more
concerned with his selection and pro-
vide special opportunities for his train
ing. They are, as rule. older boys.
The cultivation and utilization Of the
patrol leader constitutes one Of our
largest opportunities for holding the
older boy. The real appeal to the
older boy is not along the line Of sell
fishness through the proffer Of priv
ileges, but through the appeal to serv-
ice. He is impressed by being given
responsibilities. He loves to be lead
er Patrol leaders conferences, patrol
leaders training courses, organization
of prospective patrol?leaders should re-
ceive much greater attention than
they now receive. Here Is a way, ut
least in part, to meet the older boy
problem.
And further, has enough attention
been given to the actual program OF
the patrols? Here is where we may
learn much from our English scout
friends. Baden-Powell is always re-
ferring to the patrol, its leadership and
program. He seeks constantly to eu-
logize it's work, to emphasize it's pro-
gram, to humanize it's detectives, to de-
clare it's importance.
The patrol is the real unit Of scout
ing. It brings the program of scout
ing close to the boy. As 60 the pa
trolls so goes scouting. May we i'm
prove the quality Of their program.