Worcester Democrat and the ledger-enterprise. (Pocomoke City, Md.) 1921-1953, 1942-11-27
BOY SCOUTING
REPRESENTS 91%
OF POPULATION

Scouting is world wide Prior to
totaIitarian invasion Scouts were ac-
tive in 70 civilized countries which
REPRESENT 81 per cent Of the worlds
population. The c6nfraternity works
inst as intensively as extensively.
Rows are enrolled regardless of their
Mace of residence. There are troops
in the towns and cities; patrols in vii
lagos: and Lone Scouts who live on
remote farms.
The founder of Scouting built so
wisely that the program has appealed
to nations of divergent ideologies, and
TO all religious groups. Scouts are IN
democratic America and in Axis ia
pan. Troops of Scouts are sponsored
nv Protestants and Catholic churches
and by Jewish synagogues; and the
Mormon church was so favOrably I'M
messed by Scouting that it abandon
ed it's own program of boys work and
accepted Scouting.
The content of the Scouting pro
gram is just as comprehensive as the
territory that it serves. On the ma
teriaHstic side it includes vocational
guidance and subject matter per Sc;
in the spiritual realm, character edu-
cation and good manners; and IN CIV
les, democracy and patriotism.
Scouts have an unequalled oppor-
tunity for exploring the various edu-
cational subjects. BY means Of merit
badges the boys may get fundamental
information about 107 activities dl-
rectly related to life. This is val
liable part of vocational guidance.
If a Scout wishes to explore the OPP
portunities in war service he may
earn merit badges in aviation, signal
ling. radio, and fingerprinting; in the
practical arts he has opportunities IN
architecture, Photography and taxi
denny; in the fine arts he may eX-
More. dramatics and music; scientific
merit badges may be earned in as
tronomy and chemistry; for the boys
who are interested there are merit
badges in agriculture and forestry;
and i'm the trades and professions
Scouts may get honors in journalism,
surveying, plumbing, bookbinding,
craftsmanship, etc, 1t is not the IN
tention to give the boys thorough
courses i'm any of these subjects, nor
do they get smattering. The aims
are: to enable the Scouts to discover
hobbies or to develop hobbies in
choosing their careers intelhgently;
to use leisure in a worthy manner;
to make Scouts loyal and useful cltl-
zens; and to develop an appreciation
of the out-of-doors life.
Occasionally educators talk about
character education. Scouting ac-I
tually teaches it. Scouts learn those
homely virtues of trustworthlness,
loyalty, helpfulness and friendllness.
The traits which promote mental
health (cheerfylness, bravery, clean
Illness and reverence) are learned by
Scouts; and the noble qualities OF
courtesy, kindness and obedience are
not overlooked. This is not mere lip
service. Here is one of the several
requirements which Scout must sat-
isfv to become a first class Scout:
earn and deposit at least $500 IN
public bank or other savings institu-
ton (premiums paid on life insurance,
if earned. are accepted); or plan, raise
and market farm crop; or earn and
contribute at lest $500 or its equiva-
lent to the family budget or to vel
fare work in the community.
Although good manners are a val
uabale asset in social and business
life they are too often neglected in
the home and forgotten by the school.
But Scouting has not neglected this
highly important subject. On page
% of Handbook for Boys" we read,
Good manners are as vital in bust
ness as they are in social life. In
meeting a woman, or child man
should as a matter of course, always
make way for her."
"When riding in a crowded street
car or bus, men worthy of the name
viii offer their seats to woman or
child. AS a Scout, set the example
with a smile"
"In times of accident and danger,
the strong men stand back to give the
women and children protection; such