GIRL GUIDES

Hawera Star, Volume L, 29 November 1930, Page 15

GIRL GUIDES

NOTES BY “GUIDER” “My hope is to see the Guide and Scout movement become, in the near future, such a movement for good as has never yet been seen in the world. I want you to look at it, not in _ its present embryo stage, hut as it might be in 20 or *3O years hence if we go about its organisation with a. big, wide-minded view before us. “Let us aim for a time when each country lias got not merely a certain number but a definite proportion of its young women actuated by the same ideal and spirit of goodwill and cooperation. This cannot be achieved without the careful laying of foundations-, but it i:s not an impossibility. “Let us keep before ns this vision of a world-wide sisterhood, a sisterhood where the members are prepared to sink minor differences of race, religion, and rank, and to go forward hand in hand to the great future which lies before them in helping to build up peace and happiness in the world.” THE CHIEF SCOUT.

THE WORLD ASSOCIATION

The first International conference of Girl Guides was heVd- at Olxford in 1920. and the- first World Camp was Held at Foxlease in July 1924, the later being attended by 1,1-00 representatives of thirty countries. From >19)20. International conference were held in every second year. The year 1926 was a very important one in the history of the Guide movement, as it saw the first seed of the pew World Association sown. This was the outcome of the fourth International conference, which wes held in the United States in July of that year, by the wish of Mrs. Juliett Low who seemed to have an insight into* the future and who appeared to sense that the time had com© when tilt energy of a comparatively young coun•y was needed to give renewed strength to the movement. The year 1928 saw the new World Association brought into being at the fifth (International conference, which was held in Hungary during th > month of May. The' delegates -and visitors at that conference represented twentysix countries and thirty-three organisations. The sixth Woflid Conference is to take place in 1932. The first Biennial Report of the World Girl Guides covers tho period front July 1, 1928, to. June 30, 1930 and contains a general historical sketch covering Guiding from 1907, as well as the laws, promises, mottoes, uniforms and reports of all countries recognised by the World Committee. This volume covers 98 pages of mast interesting matter. "GIRL GUIDING.”

Do you i*ealise that our handbook, from the pen of*the founder, has run through no less than nine editions since it was first published in 1918': In his foreword to the latest edition the founder says: “I fear that in previous issues I may not have sufficiently emphasised the importance of nature lore and its essential place in our programme. As a consequence there rna\ be a tendency, especially* in towns and during the long winter months, to attach in its stead too great a value to signalling and drill, etc. “Our aim is character development towards happy citizenship, through natural rather than through artificial means. We have to keep that ever before us.

“The imposition of formal exercises and discipline from without is exactly the reverse of our principle of encouraging energy and self-discipline from within. But the love of Nature, properly aroused and properly directed, can with its sermons in stones and stories in the running brooks show the “good in everything.” Me onh need to read to our girls the book that as Longfellow puts it, our Father has written for us:

“And Nature, the old nurse, took The child upon her knee, Saying, ‘Here is the story-book Thy Father has written for thee

“ ‘Come wander with me,’ she said ‘lnto regions yet untrod, And read what is still unread In the manuscript of God.’

In his “Explanation” the founder says: “The object of the Guide training is to give to our girls, whatever may be their circumstances, a series of healthy and jolly activities which, while delighting them, will afford them a course, of education (outside the school) in four particular lines of which there is the greatest need: “(1) Character and Intelligence, through games, practices and activities, and honours and tests for promotion. “(2) Skill and Handcraft, encouraged through badges for proficiency. “(3) Physical Health and Hygiene, through development up to standaicl by games and exercises designed foi the purpose. “(4) Service for others and Fellowsliip, through daily good turns, organised public service, etc.