BSA "Aims and Methods" 1927-1947

In a recent thread someone asked if The Aims and Methods of Scouting had
always been the same and if all the Methods are to be given equal weight.
At our local Trade-O-Ree this weekend I was able to find most of the old
editions of The Scoutmasters Handbooks (anyone know where I can find a
copy of the first edition at a reasonable price?) and found the following:

I. Handbook for Scoutmasters: A Manual of Leadership, Second Handbook,
1927:

Two sets of Aims are given (pg. 13),

ADULT AIMS CAN BE REALIZED ONLY THRU BOY INTERESTS

Adult Aims--------------->--------------------
(Character, Citizenship) \
\ Scouting /
Boy Aims----------------->--------------------
(Pleasure, Interest)

"A Scoutmaster should frankly recognize that the adult aims of citizenship
and character are vitally different from the boy aims of pleasure and
interest. Only can the adult hope to effect his aims as he does so
through the boy's interests. The 'train' of the adult program must 'run'
on the 'tracks' of the boy's interests pulled by the boy's enthusiasm.
Character and citizenship then may be expected as by-products of what the
boy does and thinks under leadership and association...."

The Materials and Methods of Scouting (pg. 8),

A. The materials of Scouting are:
1. Boy Nature
2. The unknown or unexplored world about him, with its
Woodcraft Skycraft
Fieldcraft Campcraft
Watercraft Healthcraft
and with its larger lifecrafts of character, of service and right living.

B. The method of Scouting is to naturally bring these two together,-- the
boy and the worldcrafts:
1. Under conditions of pleasure and interest to the boy, recognizing the
law that learning aided by interest is more rapid and more permanent.
2. Under conditions which provide chances for expression, for doing
things and learning through direction of that doing.
3. Under conditions which build character and citizenship habits which
are consciously developed thru exercise.
4. Under conditions of association and cooperation which make for
democracy.
5. Where possible under out-of-door conditions which build for health.

II. The Third Handbook For Scoutmasters (written by a "Mr. William
Hillcourt, Assistant to the Director of Publications"), 1938, talks about
The Elements of Scouting, pg. 25:

"Character and citizenship--these are our aims. But they are not peculiar
to Scouting alone. So what are the essential elements which contrast
Scouting with any other program for boys?
"The answer is best provided in the words of the Chief Scout Executive,
Dr. James E. West, who for more than a quarter of a century has guided the
destinies of the Boy Scouts of America:
I. The Boy in Scouting
" 'In the majority of other programs for boys, the boy is treated as
simply a member of a group. In Scouting each boy is an individual....' "

ESSENTIAL ELEMENTS IN THE PROGRAM OF SCOUTING

1. The Boy.......Individual }
Patrol } In Uniform
Troop }
2. Leadership....Trained Volunteer--In Uniform
3. Activity......The Scout Motto: "Be Prepared"
Achievement with Recognition
4. Organization..Institutional
Local } With Trained
Regional } Professional
National } Leadership
5. Scout Oath
and Law.....Ideals of Service

III. The 1947 Handbook For Scoutmasters (written "by William Hillcourt,
National Director of Scoutcraft--himself a long active Scoutmaster"), is
the first to list together the "Aim" and "Methods of Scouting," pg. 10:

THE AIM OF SCOUTING
Scouting trains for Citizenship
by inclucating in the boy, from within instead of from
without, the qualities of
Character
Health and Strength
Handcraft and Skill
Service to Others

THE METHODS OF SCOUTING

The Scout Way
Scouting is a game 1) A Game, NOT a Science

Patrol Method
played by boys in 2) The Scout Patrol
boy gangs
under boy leaders 3) Boy Leadership
chosen by the gang.

Men in Scouting
guided by a man 4) The Scoutmaster
backed by other men 5) Troop Committee and
of the community. Local Council Scouters

Activities
SCOUTING provides 6) Adventure in the
the boy with an Out-of-Doors
active outdoor life,
grants him recognition 7) Scout Advancement
for mastering various
skills, and
Uniform
gives him a chance to 8) The Scout Uniform
wear an attractive
Uniform.
Ideals and Service
It holds before him 9) The Scout Law
the ideals of a true
Scout, and
encourages him to 10) The Scout Oath or
"help other people Promise--Service:
at all times." Good Turns

......................
Scouter Rick, ASM
Troop 108, Kenmore, NY
ricky@buffnet.net
......................

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