SCOUT AND GUIDE MOVEMENT

Hokitika Guardian, 7 April 1931, Page 8

SCOUT AND GUIDE MOVEMENT

BENEFITS OF TRAINiNC CHIEF SCOUT’S MESSAGE TO PARENTS. Dr B. Clennell Fenwick, Dominion Chief Commissioner of Boy Scouts has received the following letter to parents from the Chief Scout, Lord Baden Powell : “I have been asked to tell you about the Boy Scout and Girl Giudc .Movement. When you, as father, have utile leisure from your business or when .is mother, you are fully occupied in household affairs, it is difficult for you to give all the time you would like to your children. You want your child to enjoy itself and at the same time not get into mischief and through the Scout and Guide Movement we can supply this enjoyment in the jolly companionship of other hoys or girls, and under good and kindly supervision Further than this we can give education. It is difficult for a school teacher with a crowded time table, and large classes to take each individual child and develop its character. It js not possible to tench character to a class since no two children possess th ( . same characteristics, and yet from the point of view of future success in life, character is the most important point «i the child’s education.

“The Scout and Guide Movement is established for the purpose of helping parents and school teachers in this important direction, by taking the boys and girls in their spare time and (level oping in each one of them health o! body through out-door activities, and strength of character through games and practices which appeal to the youngster and are designed to that end These inculcate in him or in her the sense of honour and trustworthiness, initiative and self discipline, self respect and purity and helpfulness in the home and to others. These all go to constitute character, aiiT we instill into him other attributes which tend

to make him successful in bis career and helpful to the community . The Scoutmaster or Guide Captain to whom you entrust your child gives this training for no personal reward, hut simply from a sense of patriotism and interest in the young. It will greatly help .him or her if you put yourself in touch with him and tell him exactly how matters stall'd with your child, so that lie can arrange Ins training accordingly; and secondly, you can help him by showing to your child au interest in bis progress from time to time and by encouraging him in bis efforts to qualify for badges of proficiency, etc. By such mutual cooperation between parents and Scoutmaster the results on the child’s health and character are often astonishing and tend to ensure for him n happy and successful future. I hope sin cerely that you will find it so in the ease of your young Seoul or Guide.