“In Scouting, a boy is encouraged to educate himself instead of being instructed.”
- Sir Robert Baden-Powell
The Scoutmaster's real duty is to create an environment where the Boys can "Master Scouting" on their own. The Scout Master is to put the Boys completely in charge of everything. He is to establish a "Scout-Led" Program. In the long run a Scoutmaster is not interested in how many Merit Badges and Ranks the Boy's earn but rather is concerned with whether his Scouts are learning to lead and guide each other.
Over a century ago, when Lord Baden-Powell started the Boy Scout Organization, he envisioned a program that allowed Boys to learn how to become Leaders by "doing" what Leaders "do". Powell recognized that Boys only learn when they do things completely "on their own". The problem arise in the fact that it is natural for Leaders to want to do things for the Boys. The result of which is they start out by doing little things for them and before you know it the entire program is being run by the adults rather than the scouts. What becomes worse is when this adult lead mentality becomes the tradition and the scouts are cheated out of the opportunity to lead a unit themselves.
YOu say whats the harm...at least they are getting exposed to the activities. I say any Boy can 'show up' to Scouts and go through the motions (being told what to do); have his handbook signed and passed-off and obtain the ranks (given to him). I would prefer to have a group of Boys who arrive and perform their duties without being told or compelled? Applying all of their creativity and talents completely on their own? It is then, and only then, that they will gain experience that is not fake, but instead, alive and real.
At the age of 8 weeks old, a Bald Eagle has all of the needed body parts to actually fly and leave the nest. It is not until at the age of 12 weeks old that it actually spreads open its wings and attempts to fly. As the bird continues to fly on its own, it gains greater skill and eventually, over the years, is found soaring to greater heights among the majestic senior Bald Eagles... At the age of 12 years old, Boys should be spreading their OWN wings to fly. They should be taking charge of and leading their own program. This is only possible if they are enabled and allowed to do so!
Last summer our troop attended a local camp and that evening in the Scoutmasters meeting a number of scout masters came over to talk with our Scoutmaster and myself, the Assistant Scoutmaster. They were impressed by our young troop. They had watched as our vehicles arrived and the boys scurried to unload and organize the gear for the week long event. They had watched as two of the boys, the Senior Patrol Leader and the former Senior Patrol Leader, gave instructions as to what was to go where and assigned their fellows tasks. They had watched as the adult leaders of our troop pitched in to help but in the end were not permitted to do very much work. Instead it was done for us. In a the space of an hour and a half a complete campsite was erected and the Scout Master's had little to do it's apparent creation. What they asked and wanted to know was how we got the boys to do this. Our answer was simple. Their scouts.
Chris and the others who head our troop believe in the concept of a scout lead unit. However we have not always been fortunate. We have had to rebuild and restart the troop a number of times and as a result it was not until last year that we truly started moving toward a true scout lead unit. Today we hold a Senior Patrol Leaders council once a quarter. In these meetings the Senior Patrol Leader (SPL) and his Assistant sits down with us to discuss plans for upcoming meetings and events. Currently in those meetings I act as the recorder and put everything on our
website. These notes form the basis of the meeting they hold weekly. In the field Chris and I let them fumble and stumble if need be, offering only advice and guidance. We try very very hard not to tell but to let them learn. Only stepping in when they are creating something that could be dangerous for someone.
Are we a true scout lead unit...not yet but we are headed there. If your in the Marmet, WV area on Monday Evenings drop by The Methodist Church and say high to the Scouts. If your in our area and thinking of joining scouts come check us out. We don't stand on ceremony just drop by and take part for an evening.
