Scouting for girls, adapted from girl guiding/Part 4
PART IV
CAPTAINS
WHAT IS GIRL SCOUTING?
The Girl Scouts are a Sisterhood. This means that members of it, from top to bottom, are working together as sisters—elder and younger sisters—from joy of the work. It is not a small army composed of officers, non-commissioned officers and privates in their respective grades directing or directed under imposed instruction, therefore the title of Captain and Lieutenant, which, although adopted in the Association, does not exactly describe their role, so I shall in these notes refer to the seniors of all grades as I always think of them, viz. as the Captains—those who, like elder sisters, show the younger ones how "to turn to the right and keep straight on." The secret of successful execution of a scheme or of an order is that those to whom it is imparted should not merely have the statement but understand the meaning that underlies it. So I would propose here—without any idea of instructing my grandchildren how to masticate hen products—to help them to understand some of the methods of our movement so that those who are interested may the more easily take up the work of guiding girls in this happy sisterhood.
The Need
That nation comes to the fore which has the most character in its citizens. It deserves its supremacy only when that character is a good character. The character of a nation is not merely that of a few leaders but of the majority of the people. Character is largely a matter of environment and training, and, later on, of experience. Undoubtedly the mother's influence gives as a rule the first impetus to character. A mother cannot give that which she does not possess herself. Therefore it is all-important that the mothers of our country should possess character of a high quality in order to inculcate it in their children. Hitherto the girls, some of the future mothers of our race, have had little character training as a direct part of their education. Character includes self-reliance, self-discipline, cheerfulness, consideration for others, sense of duty, patriotism, and other such moral qualities. But there are other things besides character needed to make a citizen, especially
- Skill in handicraft or other work.
- Sense of duty and service for others.
- Physical health and knowledge.
It is on these four lines therefore that the training of the Girl Scouts is carried out, through games and practices which appeal to the girls.
What Need Is There for It?
1. War has shown how valuable women can be to the country and to themselves if only trained.
2. Also peace has shown how far from happy life can be for some unless they are trained. From want of proper training preventable misery exists among a very large class. This is to be seen in the squalor in our great cities, in the poverty and unhappiness, the infant mortality, the preventable diseases and social diseases due to ignorance, carelessness, and generally to want of character.
Is Not Education Good Enough?
No. Though it is very good and vastly improved of late years and probably better than that of any other nation, yet it cannot under existing conditions entirely prepare the girl for what is possible for her in the present day, much less for what will be required of her in the near future. The remedy largely needed is formation of character. Character is formed more by the environment outside the school walls than by the instruction within them; that environment may be for good and at the same time it may very easily be for bad.
Practical efficiency in homecraft or in mothercraft is essential, but efficiency is desirable in many other spheres for professions, and in the many fields in which woman has proved that she can shine.
The need of health for herself and knowledge of health for her children and for the service for others is essential on a far more general scale than has been heretofore possible through school training alone.
Sense of Duty to Others
Though the war has brought a splendid exhibition of self-sacrifice and devotion on the part of women and a desire to be helpful and patriotic, the sense of service is one which requires further education in the rising generation. The results of such training can only mean a stronger patriotism and a sound practical Christianity instead of a mere profession.
WHAT REMEDY IS PROPOSED?
The aim of the Girl Scout Movement is to assist parents and school teachers by supplying the desirable environment and healthy activities outside the school. The first thing is to attract the girls by happy comradeship, neat uniform, games and competitions which will appeal to them. Then through these to develop in them the four points which I have mentioned as "essential." But please don't think that we want to make a school of it. My harping on the "training" may lead you to think so. We do not want to trespass on the school teacher's ground nor to adopt school curricula or examination systems. Quite the contrary. The weak point of modern education is that though it recognises the value of more up-to-date subjects it has not yet broken away from old methods in presenting them to the child. Till it does so it will remain Instruction instead of education. Our object in the Scouts is to supply healthy play and recreation: but play when organised need not be waste of time. In these days we cannot afford, nor is it fair on them, to let children waste time and then to launch them "half-baked" into the sea of life-troubles. The Scout training offers them ideals and activities which supplement, without tiring them, the teaching of the school.
Results and experience of five years shows that the scheme is successful in attracting girls of every class in every part of the world. It can be applied equally well in town or country and it helps rather than interferes with every form of religion. Where properly handled it gives remarkable and satisfactory results in the directions looked for.
WHAT IS THE ORGANISATION?
A.— NATIONAL COUNCIL
The National Council is the governing body of the Girl Scout organization. It is composed of delegates from Local Councils and of other elected members. It holds one meeting a year to elect officers and the members of the Executive Board, and to decide matters that concern the policy and welfare of the entire organization.
Duties
The duties of the National Council are to
- Charter Local Councils, to commission officers, and register Scouts.
A—National Council—Officers, Executive Board, Headquarters, Staff.
B—Federation or State Organization. Commissioner.
C—Local Council Officers, Local Director or Secretary.
D—Troops—Captains and Lieutenants.
E—Patrols—Patrol Leaders and Corporals.
F—Girl Scouts—Brownies—Citizens Scouts.
- Manufacture and copyright the Badges.
- Select uniforms and other equipment.
- Determine the general policies and lay down the lines of Girl Scout training.
These functions are carried out by an Executive Board between the annual meetings of the National Council. The National Headquarters and a staff of workers are employed to execute the orders of the National Council.
Officers
- The President.
- Two Vice-Presidents.
- The Treasurer.
- The Chairman of the Executive Board.
Executive Board
The Executive Board works through Committees, which act as advisers to the board in matters concerning Field, Standards, Uniforms, Business, Education, Editorial, Publicity, etc. Final action is in the hands of the Executive Board, which is responsible to the National Council.
National Headquarters
National Headquarters is divided into departments for the more efficient handling of the work. The head of the office staff is the National Director.
The Director is appointed by the Executive Board, and serves as the Secretary of the National Council, the Executive Board and the various committees thereof. Under the authority of the Executive Board she acts as the administrating officer of the Girl Scouts and has general direction of the administrative work.
Uniform. Khaki Norfolk suit.
Scout hat, gold and back hat cords (see Committee on Uniforms, Jan. 12, 1918).
Insignia. Four bands of half-inch black braid all around left cuff (see Committee on Standards, May 7, 1918).
National Field Captains are employed by the organization and assigned to work in the field.
Uniform. Khaki Norfolk suit.
Scout hat, gold and black hat cord (see Com. on Uniforms, Jan. 12, 1918).
Insignia. Three bands of half-inch black braid all around left cuff (see Com. on Standards, May 7, 1918).
COMMUNICATIONS
Every Girl Scout, every officer and councilor, every troop and council has the right of direct communication with National Headquarters and in cases of dispute an appeal may be made to the Executive Board. It is, however, desirable that in all ordinary matters the lines of communication to Headquarters should be as follows:—
Form a troop, through the Captain, or through the troop secretary giving name and number of troop, and name of captain.
Where a Local Council is established, it is the normal medium of communication between the captains (troop) under its jurisdiction and National Headquarters.
Where a Federation or State Organization is established it may serve as the medium of communication between the Local Councils and National Headquarters in matters that affect the general policy of all the Local Councils included in it.
Local Councils may also communicate direct with National Headquarters in matters that concern their own locality.
B.—FEDERATION OR STATE ORGANIZATIONS
A number of Local Councils may join together to form a Federation for mutual support. Local Councils belonging to it may delegate their general policy to the Federation but retain their power to control their Councils in local matters.
The officers of the Federation may be elected as required.
Field Captains may be employed for organizing their work.
The presiding officer is the Commissioner.
Membership in such a Federation is voluntary.
Or instead of a Federation of Councils a State Organization may be formed. The area under control will coincide with the State of the United States.
C.—LOCAL COUNCILS
In any community where there are Girl Scouts a Local Council may be organized. This is a body of representative citizens of the community (number varies according to size of the community) who are organized for the purpose of promoting the welfare of the Girl Scouts of that district. They determine the policies and direct the local work, following the rules and regulations laid down in the official Handbook and Manual subject to the general policies determined by the National Council or its Executive Board. Each Chartered Local Council may send one delegate to the National Council and one additional delegate for every 200 registered Scouts under its jurisdiction. The National Executive Board is the court of last resort and every member of the Girl Scout Organization has the right of appeal to that court. The Local Council's officers recommend Captains and Lieutenants for commissions, and have the power to request their resignation when desirable, or they may appeal to National Headquarters to dismiss an undesirable captain. A Local Council may ask Headquarters for the assistance of a Field Captain.
Insignia for Local Councilors. Gray and black shoulder cord and fringe (see minutes Executive Board, April 11, 1918).
Gray and black hat cord.
The shoulder cords may be worn with any costume—the hat cords are generally worn only with the uniform hat.
The Commissioner
Is the presiding officer of the Local Council. She is chairman of the Local Executive Board, she is elected by the Local Council and receives a commission from the National Headquarters.
Duties. Her duties are to secure the harmonious corporation of the captains in her district, to inspect Scout patrols and troops and advise how to conduct them according to the principles found in the Handbook, to be the authority for recommending the issue or denial of captains' certificates and foster the movement generally.
Uniform. Khaki Norfolk suit. Scout hat with gray cord with gray acorns.
Insignia. Gray shoulder cord and fringe (may be worn with any costume if Commissioner prefers not to have a uniform) (see minutes Executive Board, April 11, 1918).
Officers
Of Local Councils will be elected according to the needs of the community.
Deputy Commissioner
Stands in the relation of vice-president to the commissioner.
Uniform. Khaki Norfolk Suit. Scout hat with gray cord with black acorns.
Insignia. Gray shoulder cord with black and gray fringe and black center, may be worn with any costume if the Deputy Commissioner prefers not to have a uniform (see minutes Executive Board, April 11, 1918).
District Commissioner
In large communities it is possible to divide the territory into districts each with a District Commissioner who is responsible for the work in that district to the Commissioner.
Uniforms. Khaki Norfolk Suit. Scout hat with gray cord with gray acorns.
Insignia. Black shoulder cord with black and gray fringe with gray center. May be worn with any costume if the District Commissioner prefers not to have a uniform.
The Local Director
Is the title given to the executive officer of the local Council. (This officer was formerly called Secretary.)
Duties. She has charge of Headquarters and other property of the local organization, has general supervision of the Captains and instructs new captains in their duties, organizes new troops, receives and forwards to Headquarters all applications for captains' certificates, keeps all records of the council and of the troops and such information concerning them as may be necessary for the work. She is secretary of the Committees, but her presence at each meeting is decided by the Local Council; it is her duty to attend public meetings connected with the organization and she represents Girl Scouts at the meetings of other organizations unless otherwise directed by the Council.
Uniform. Khaki Norfolk suit. Scout hat with gold and black hat cord (see Com. on Uniforms, Jan. 12, 1918).
Insignia. Four bands one-fourth-inch black braid, all around left cuff (Com. on Standards, May 7, 1918).
Local Field Captains
May be employed by Local Councils for organizing their work.
Uniform. Khaki Norfolk suit. Scout hat, gold and black hat cord (Com. on Uniforms, Jan. 12, 1918).
Troops
Insignia. Three bands of one-fourth-inch black braid all around left cuff (Com. on Standards, May 7, 1918).
Girl Scouts are organized in troops under the direct charge of a Captain who may or may not have one or more Lieutenants to assist her.
A troop may be of any size, although it is not advisable for a Captain to have a troop of more than thirty girls unless she is assisted by a capable Lieutenant.
The Captain
Must not be less than twenty-one years old, and must have a personal character and standing, a good moral influence over girls, and sufficient steadfastness of purpose to carry out the work with energy and perseverance. She should have a general knowledge of the Handbook, and should appreciate the underlying aim and principles of Girl Scout training. She must apply to National Headquarters for her commission. Application should be made on blanks supplied from National Headquarters and must be endorsed by three prominent citizens of the community. Where a Local Council is established the application must be sent through the Local Council. The Captain has the power to enroll Scouts, and to release a Scout from her promise, to suspend her for a certain period, or withdrew her badges and discharge her. A Scout who considers herself unjustly treated may appeal to the Local Council or even to National Council. The Captain directs the Scout training of the girls in her troop, and may examine them for the Tenderfoot and Second Class tests. Where no court of honor exists she may secure examiners for them for the special subjects of proficiency badges or this may be done by the Local Council.
Uniform. Khaki Norfolk suit. Scout hat, gold and black hat cord (Com. on Uniforms, Jan. 12, 1918).
Insignia. Gold and black shoulder cord (Com. on Uniforms, Jan. 12, 1918), two bands one-fourth-inch black braid all around left cuff (Com. on Standards, May 7, 1918). Captain's pin.
Lieutenant
Should not be less than 18 years of age. Her qualifications are the same as those for Captain and she receives her commission in the same way. She is chosen by the Captain, performs the duties of the Captain during her absence and such other duties as the Captain may assign to her.
Uniform. Khaki Norfolk suit. Scout hat, gold and black hat cord (Com. on Uniforms, Jan. 12, 1918).
Insignia. One braid one-fourth-inch black braid all around left cuff (Com. on Uniforms, May 7, 1918).
Lieutenant's pin.
Captains and Lieutenants on making their application to enter the organization pay a small fee which covers the entire period of membership. Commissions are issued for one year and must be renewed at the end of the period.
E.—PATROLS
Troops are divided into Patrols of about eight girls each, for convenience in work and play. One of the eight girls is chosen Patrol Leader and another the Corporal.
The Patrol Leader must be what her name implies, a leader, for she stands next to the Captain and Lieutenant and takes either's place in their absence. She is responsible for her patrol. She may be elected by the girls themselves or appointed by the captain, with the consent of the girls. She holds office for six months or a year, and is eligible for reëlection. Her duties include calling the roll, keeping records of the attendance and dues of her patrol, and leaving the meeting place in order. Any of these duties may be delegated to the Corporal, or to some other member of the patrol, particularly as the Patrol Leader becomes capable of assuming heavier responsibilities, to relieve her of the routine duties.
Uniform. Regular Scout uniform.
Insignia. Chevron, two stripes, on left sleeve above elbow.
The Patrol Leader carries the patrol pennon.
The Corporal may be elected by the patrol, appointed by the captain or by the Patrol Leader. She takes the latter's place when she is absent, and performs such other duties as may be assigned to her by the Patrol Leader or by the Captain.
Uniform. Regular Scout uniform.
Insignia. Chevron, one bar; on left sleeve above elbow.
Want of space in the present book prevents me from going into the details of the dress, administration, and discipline of the Movement, but these can all be found in the Book of Rules, which can be obtained from Headquarters price 6d.
Discipline of the Movement
All these rules may appear rather alarming to an outsider, but please remember that they are "rules" as for cricket and not "regulations" as for police purposes. They are merely intended as indications for "playing the game," and that is the only form of discipline that we ask for in the sisterhood. Their object is to ensure that their policy is adhered to under which our Charter of Incorporation was granted, and also to guarantee to parents that reliable officers are in charge of their girls to ensure fairness of standard in awards, and to secure efficient training by having efficient Scouters.
Method
Method.—Our method of training is to educate from within rather than to instruct from without; to offer games and activities which, while being attractive to the girl, will seriously educate her morally, mentally, and physically.
Our aim is to promote "not so much the acquisition of knowledge as the desire and capacity for acquiring knowledge."
In other words, the Captain's job is to enthuse the girl in the right direction. By acting on this principle she will save herself considerable trouble in reaching her goal and in producing smart, keen and capable girls.
It is the means by which the modern schoolmistress scores over her more old-fashioned sister, since she develops a girl to be efficient rather than scholarly, to have character rather than erudition—and that is what counts towards success in life nowadays.
By "efficiency" I don't mean mere money-making skill, but a general intelligence and capability to live a free, prosperous and happy life.
To preach "don't" is to incite the doing of wrong. Rather infuse the right spirit; as powder is to the shot, so is spirit to action.
Moral Instruction.—Direct moral instruction—like drill—produces a pleasing veneer, but unless there is properly seasoned character below this will not stand wear.
Wise old Plato long ago gave us the right lead in education, and one which only now is beginning to be followed, when he said that there was innate good in every child, and the aim of education should be to develop these natural "instincts of virtue" through suitable practices.
Active versus passive education.—No mention of reading, writing, and 'rithmetic as essentials, but of enlarging the natural instincts, i.e., character by practices not merely by precepts.
The average girl (if there is such a thing as an average girl) does not want to sit down and passively receive theoretical instruction. She wants to be up and actually doing things in practice, and this is a good lever to work upon if only the teacher will recognise it as the instrument ready to her hand.
Your first step then is to study the girl herself; to recognise her likes and dislikes, her good qualities and her bad, and to direct her training on these.
How to Apply the Training
The scheme given in this book is little more than a suggestive outline. It is left to the ingenuity of the Captain to devise generally on these lines further activities such as will best suit her local conditions.
Games and practices selected or planned for the purpose can be made to teach, through the youthful enthusiasm of the girls, most of the moral attributes required, such as self-restraint, good temper, obedience to leaders and to rules, unselfishness, pluck, moral endurance, fairness, esprit de corps, etc., as well as physical hygiene. Further, they teach soberness in success, good humour in defeat, and repression of show-off and hysterics.
For example, if a girl faints on parade it should be a point of honour almost to take no notice of her beyond allowing her Corporal and one other Scout to look after her. The business of the moment should go on as if nothing untoward were happening.
THE PSYCHOLOGY OF THE SCOUTER
There are two fundamental points to be considered in dealing with Scouts. The first is that the only woman who can hope for real success as a trainer of Scouts is the one who can be their elder sister. The "Commanding Officer" is no good and the "Schoolmistress" is doomed to failure (though in neither case probably would the woman recognise it herself nor admit it). This fact is being proved daily by the successful results already gained by our Captain. By the term "elder sister" I mean one who while commanding their respect can place herself on terms of comradeship with her girls, entering into their games and laughter, herself thereby winning their confidence and putting herself into that position which is essential for teaching, namely, where by her own example she leads them in the right direction instead of merely pointing the way.
The Psychology of the Girl
The second item to recognise, although as a point it is of first importance, is that the girl of eight to ten is psychologically quite different from the girl of ten to fifteen. I don't mean that the change comes about with a bang in the tenth year; but the younger girl is growing relatively in mind and body more rapidly than the elder one, and the transition gradually comes about approximately at those ages in the average girl. The age at which crime begins among the poorer class of children points to the age at which character begins to form itself, and it appears much earlier in life than is usually supposed; that is to say, the crime returns show a good deal of juvenile depravity at the early age of ten and eleven, and at twelve it has mounted to its highest point in the young generation up to twenty. Between the ages of eight and nine, therefore, seem to be the right time to get hold of the girl when the seeds of character may begin to sprout into pliant tendrils ready to trail off in the wrong direction, but easily taken in hand at that time and trained aright.
Under eleven the following are common attributes in the average child: make-believe, appreciation of fairy tales, eagerness for new experiences, collection of stamps and other curios, mental restlessness, physical restlessness, thoughtlessness, untruthfulness, etc. Over eleven the following attributes may be generally counted on: constructiveness, hero-worship, liking for team games, dawning conscience, sense of humour, of pathos and of sympathy.
Character
In any case sense of honour, truth, self-control, fairness, discipline, responsibility and good humour have been too little inculcated among girls in the past, and this important omission we endeavour to make good in the practices and activities of the Scout work adapted to the psychology changes as they come.
The Patrol System for Scouts
I remember when we first started the Boy Scout and Girl Scout Movements in England, I received some valuable advice from a prominent business man with regard to organising the Head-quarters Office.
He told me that women were far the best clerks to employ in preference to men, but he said the pity of it was that they only rose to a certain height in their work and they could not be made managers of departments because they could not take responsibility.
War conditions have since shown that if he meant this as a rule he was wrong. Women have risen splendidly to the occasion, and in very many cases have shown themselves perfectly qualified to take higher duties upon themselves.
At the same time there is no doubt that if more of them were prepared for it early in life, many more of them would be so employed in ordinary times of peace.
In the Girl Scout Movement, as in the Boy Scouts, we also have the small unit—the Patrol—commanded by its own girl Leader.
This in the first place conduces to the Patrol Spirit among its members, where each of them considers the honour of her unit to be always at stake, and that it is up to her among its other members constantly to uphold it reputation.
This brings the development of self-discipline, sense of duty and selflessness down to the individual. Emulation between Patrols in a Troop make for a higher standard of efficiency and collective discipline all round; and this is a great help to the Captain.
But also there is the Patrol Leader. She is the responsible officer for leading her Patrol to victory and for keeping each member of the unit up to the mark so that the Patrol as a whole does not fall behind any other.
To do this effectively she soon discovers, if it is not otherwise pointed out to her, that she has to be a Leader not only in name but in fact and in act.
She has to be an all-round efficient, and she has to use her brain and thought, her initiative and power of command to hold and lead those under her.
With a little practice this rôle becomes a habit. Having learnt how to obey and how to restrain herself she develops the power of command and her own sense of responsibility, thereby unconsciously preparing herself to take higher positions of trust in real life later on.
But above all this means for each individual the development of character. And that is our aim.
The Court of Honour formed by Patrol Leaders and their Assistants ("Corporals") is also of untold value in founding and developing the strength of the Scout spirit and the sense of responsibility to a further degree among the girls.
For these reasons the Patrol System is the most important element in the Girl Scout Training, and it is, as far as I know, the only step so far made available towards educating girls practically in two points which have long been missing in their unbringing—namely, in the sense and practice of Self-discipline and Responsibility.
How the Scout Training Appeals
From the parents' point of view Scout work gives character to the girls, also skill at handicrafts; thirdly, service and helpfulness to others; fourthly, physical health and development.
From the teacher's point of view it provides a healthy environment outside the school, and activities which tend to develop in practice many of these attributes inculcated theoretically in the girls' lessons.
From the girls' point of view Scouting puts them into fraternity gangs among jolly comrades and it gives them a smart dress and equipment, it appeals to their imagination in results, and it engages them in an active open-air and healthy life.
Our aim is to give equal chances to all and to give the most help to the least fortunate.
The training applies equally well to girls of all classes and can be carried out in towns just as well as in the country.
Camps
Camping, which a few years ago was looked upon as impossible for girls, has now become an institution in very many centres—or one that has brought the very best results. It is what the girls look forward to with intense joy, and it gives the Captains their greatest opportunity.
Large camps are, for training purposes, a mistake: one troop of three or four patrols is as much as a Captain and Lieutenant can manage with due regard to the health and training of the girls. They may be carried out in tents or in barns and farm buildings, empty houses, etc.
Religion
Two authorities from very different points of view have gone so far as to describe Scouting and Scout work as "a new religion and a practical one." One of these was a clergyman and a schoolmaster, and the other a statesman of strong human sympathies.
We have not ourselves pretended to claim any such standing for the teaching, but we do find from experience that where rightly handled it can put the right spirit and the right grounding into children for developing religion through their inner consciousness instead of having theology imposed upon them through surface instruction of morality taught them through fear of punishment.
Nature Study and Good Turns
To interest the child is our method of training in the Scout movement, whatever may be the subject taken up. It can equally be used in the development of the elements of religion without in any way trenching on the teaching of any particular denomination—indeed it is helpful to all.
We use, therefore, the study of Nature as a first step to the realisation of the Creator. The dissection of a plant or bird, the observation of the habits of an animal or an insect, or the study of the stars and planets all command the eager interest of the girl, and if properly applied, reveal to her with absorbing force the miracle laws of Nature; it gives her a sense of the beautiful; it gives her an uplifting instinct of reverence for the power of God.
Then, on the moral side, to be good is of little interest to the child; to do good is another matter. She has an innate predisposition to the active practice rather than to the passive reception, and the Scout encouragement to do the daily good turn meets her inclination and eventually leads her—bit by bit—to the practice of kindness and of self-sacrifice for others as her natural habit of mind and action. In other words, the germ of the Divine Love that is within her is developed along lines which appeal to her, till it blossoms out as an integral part of her life and character, as her soul. In this way the soul is educated, that is, self-expanded from within: it cannot be developed artificially by the application of book instruction and rules from without.
Nature study should not be the mere formal class teaching of the school, but should be the interested pursuit of each individual girl in that branch of it which particularly appeals to her, through practical handling and dealing with it.
Through such Nature investigation, and the consequent appreciation of God the Creator, the Captain can lead the girl on to a right understanding of biology and of her own position in the order of nature; to realise how she can be associated with the Creator in His work and how she can have her part in the romance of reproduction and the carrying on of the race; also that good motherhood is a wonderful gift of God, at once a sacred and a patriotic privilege and duty.
Many a girl has been ruined by ignorance on the subject, and by the wrong or debased views picked up haphazard. Parents to a great extent evade their duties in this direction, and yet they are apt to resent other people trying to remedy their neglect. So it is often desirable for a Captain to consult the mother before talking to a girl, but the girl should not be left to slide in ignorance. Then it is not a thing to deal with before a number of girls, but with the individual according to her psychology.
One of the objects in a Captain being "an elder sister rather than an officer" to her girls is precisely that she can talk to them intimately and naturally on this very vital topic.
Rallies
Rallies are useful for bringing together a number of Troops to see each other and be seen by others whom it is desired to interest in the Movement. For either or both purposes it is a good thing to have displays of Scout activities by the different patrols and companies, and also to have competitions between them in various Scout practices.
A too common fault about Rallies is that the stage-managing is faulty—the way in which the thing is presented is as important as the thing presented, so far as the outside impression is concerned. The other fault is that generally the displays are chosen too much with a view to training the girls and too little with a view to interesting the onlookers. This is a bad fault if you are trying to spread the Movement and to get people keenly interested in it. The two points can perfectly well be combined. Let the programme err on the short side, and let it be full of variety, novelty, incident, and interest. Long signalling tests and bandaging exhibitions are intensely boring to the onlookers who don't understand them. Whereas a realistic accident, a pretty dance, good acting, and graceful gymnastics, and exhibitions of work done, or girls at work, are pleasing and attractive.
Let it go with a snap—short, sharp and sweet.
Often the Rally includes inspection by a Commissioner or other officers.
Inspection of Troops by Commissioners
There was in the early days of the Movement a tendency to look upon the inspection of a Troop rather in the light of a military parade or a social function, when in point of fact it should be neither.
A cursory review by a visiting officer is bound to induce training for outward effect and appearance, an entire perversion of our aims and methods.
I have seen it suggested, even quite recently, that the girls in the Troop should be ranged for inspection in order of size so that they may please the eye of the inspector!
The up-to-date inspecting officer is not likely to be taken in by eye-wash. Her aim is to ascertain to what extent results have been attained by the Captain among the girls in each Patrol in her Troop in the four main branches of our training.
- Character and Intelligence.
- Skill and Handicraft.
- Service for Others.
- Physical Health and Health Knowledge.
She will generally take each Patrol separately, or if there is not time for this, one Patrol selected at random from each Troop.
She will then, by questioning the Patrol Leader and some of the Scouts, judge for herself to what extent the leader is capable of responsibility and leadership, and to what extent the girls are efficient, keen, and smart.
She can, by a few simple tests, soon see whether they have really earned their badges, and she can offer them simple personal advice which will sink in and be valued.
The Scout Spirit and Scout proficiency are to her the important points to look for.
Accurate drill, neat bandaging, quick and legible signalling, smart uniform, are excellent steps, but they are only steps among others towards the attainment of womanly efficiency on the part of the individual girl.
That is the aim of our training.
Happy, smiling face, ready resourcefulness and quick intelligence in carrying out any job that may be given is the evidence of keen esprit de corps in the Patrol, are by far the best indications to the inspecting officer as to whether or not true Scout training is practised by the Captain in her Troop.
Give Us the Young!
As Benjamin Kidd has written, let our cry be:
"Oh! you wise men who would reconstruct the world! Give us the young. Give us the young. Do what you will with the world, only give us the young. It is the dreams which we teach them: it is the Utopias which we conceive for them: it is the thoughts which we think for them, which will rebuild the world. Give us the young before the evil has held them and we will create a new Heaven and a new Earth."