Scout Notes

Northern Advocate, 25 March 1937, Page 4

Scout Notes

by TUAKANA

The Patrol System Chief is always stressing the importance of the fact that Scouting is “Scouting for boys, by boys,” and that the greater part the boys play in it the better. It was the boys themselves who started the show originally, and they are quite competent to run it today if we will only let them. Occassionally there appears to be a tendency for Scouters to neglect their wonderful opportunities for training their Scouts through the patrol system. The giving of responsibility is the keynote of the whole system; experience is one of the best teachers, a much better teacher than any Scouter, and only by doing things for themselves will the patrol leaders and his patrol develop their character and ability to the fullest extent. Now, it is- a lamentable fact that you sonietimes find a Scouter who says, “Yes, it sounds all right, but it would not work with my boys—and I’m not sure how to go about it anyway.”l |This Sclputer’s troop learns all its Scouting from him or instructors, and the patrol system gets no further than providing convenient teams for games. Often the troop is only a “signalling, ambulance, games” club. Here is how one Wellington troop goes about it. The Scoutmaster holds a fortnightly meeting of the senior patrol (consisting of patrol leaders and seconds), and at that meeting they are taught any new subjects as required. New games and ideas are tried out and adopted or rejected for troop use. A court of 1 honour usually concludes each meeting. When troop meeting night comes practically all instructional work is done by the patrol'leaders, aided by their seconds. Patrol meetings, apart from troop meetings are held indoors and out. Each patrol leader and second has a definite . troop responsibility, so that they count—they are really important. Chief Scout’s Greetings ■ i . A meeting with the Chief Scout, Lord Baden-Powell, was one of the incidents of a visit to Great Britain by the Rev. G, E. Moreton, of Auckland, who recently returned by the Awatea from Sydney. Mr. Moreton said Lord Baden-Powell ~ had been very interested to hear of New Zealand Scouting activities,, and he had sent his greetings to all Scouts in the Dominion A £IOOO Prize Eddie Cantor, the film star, has paid for a £IOOO college scholarship, a pri?e offered for an essay on “World Peace,” to Scout O. W. Mathews, of Portland, Oregon. The winner based the essay on his personal experience. He was a member of the American Scout Contingent to the World Jamboree at Godollo, Hungary, in 1933, and his essay dealt with the observation of the mutual friendliness and good will shown there by boys of many nationalities.