Fwd: Further questions on the marching thing
GMarmet@AOL.COM
Thu, 29 Jul 1999 19:33:38 EDT
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> In a message dated 7/29/1999 12:59:58 PM CST, amaddox@LUTRON.COM writes:
>
> > 1) At summer camp during retreat after the American flag is lowered, all
> > the troops march in review. They do a right column turn and then a right
> > flank turn. Then they pass "staff line" and salute the Camp Director who
> > salutes back. (Well, that's what I understand). So your telling me that
> this
> > is against BSA policy? Yes or No. There is this big competition who
> > does it the best. And it's all judged and recognized.
>
> Saluting the Camp Director used to be required as an act of politeness and
> respect. Not just the Camp Director of course, but any adult Scouter when
> you greated him or when you left his presence. (see an old handbook, my
1928
> handbook states this quite clearly). No longer is there any mention in the
> handbook about this practice, and many Scouters will insist that Scouts
> should only salute the flag, not a man. However, there is no reference in
> Scouting literature, that I know, that even suggests this, so, in my
opinion
> the old rules are still possible, not required necessarily, but possible.
So
> I would say No, saluting the Camp Director is not against BSA policy.
>
>
> > 2) A couple of years ago, the guys in our troop started doing
"collegiate"
>
> > style marching and drilling. Even to a novice like me, there is a
> difference.
> >
> > The boys get a kick out of it. It's a little fancier than what I know
to
> be
> > "military" style. (Please refer back to the part about me being a
novice)
> Is
> > this taboo, too?
>
> Marching is not taboo. Drilling is not taboo. What is taboo is drill as
an
> exercise for development of youth. That is drill as an end in itself.
There
> is nothing wrong with giving your Scouts a little marching instruction for
a
> parade or other event. Just don't make drill the purpose of Scouting.
>
> Yours in Scouting,
>
> G. John Marmet
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From: GMarmet@aol.com
Full-name: GMarmet
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Date: Thu, 29 Jul 1999 15:12:33 EDT
Subject: Re: Further questions on the marching thing
To: amaddox@LUTRON.COM, listserv@listserv.tcu.edu
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In a message dated 7/29/1999 12:59:58 PM CST, amaddox@LUTRON.COM writes:
> 1) At summer camp during retreat after the American flag is lowered, all
> the troops march in review. They do a right column turn and then a right
> flank turn. Then they pass "staff line" and salute the Camp Director who
> salutes back. (Well, that's what I understand). So your telling me that
this
> is against BSA policy? Yes or No. There is this big competition who
> does it the best. And it's all judged and recognized.
Saluting the Camp Director used to be required as an act of politeness and
respect. Not just the Camp Director of course, but any adult Scouter when
you greated him or when you left his presence. (see an old handbook, my 1928
handbook states this quite clearly). No longer is there any mention in the
handbook about this practice, and many Scouters will insist that Scouts
should only salute the flag, not a man. However, there is no reference in
Scouting literature, that I know, that even suggests this, so, in my opinion
the old rules are still possible, not required necessarily, but possible. So
I would say No, saluting the Camp Director is not against BSA policy.
> 2) A couple of years ago, the guys in our troop started doing "collegiate"
> style marching and drilling. Even to a novice like me, there is a
difference.
>
> The boys get a kick out of it. It's a little fancier than what I know to be
> "military" style. (Please refer back to the part about me being a novice)
Is
> this taboo, too?
Marching is not taboo. Drilling is not taboo. What is taboo is drill as an
exercise for development of youth. That is drill as an end in itself. There
is nothing wrong with giving your Scouts a little marching instruction for a
parade or other event. Just don't make drill the purpose of Scouting.
Yours in Scouting,
G. John Marmet
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