Scout Spirit - From the Handbook

This is what the Boy Scout Handbook says about Scout Spirit

Defined p 47

Scout Spirit refers to the effort you make to live up to the ideals of Scouting. The Oath, Law, Motto, and Slogan serve as everyday guidelines for a good life.

Tenderfoot, Requirement #13 p60

discuss scout spirit with your scoutmaster and with older boy scouts in your troop. Ask them for examples of how you can demonstrate Scout Spirit . You will likely hear examples of the Scout Oath and Law as ways to show your Scout spirit

Second Class Requirement #9 p108

Most requirements for Scout ranks can be measured by other people. When you set out to swim 50 feet for the Second Class swimming requirement, anyone can see that you have covered the distance. How well you live the Scout Oath and Scout Law in your life, though is something for you to judge. You know when you are being kind, when you are helpful and a good friend. You know when you are trustworthy. and reverent. You alone know how you act when no one is around to witness what you do. Do the best you can to live each day by the Scout Oath and Law. You might look back on some of the decisions you've made and wish you had acted differently, but you can learn from those moments and promise yourself you will do better in the future. And dont be surprised that when you use the scout oath and law for guidance, others will recognize those values in you and respect you for it. Set high standards for yourself and strive to reach them. No one can ask anymore of you

First class Requirement #10 p164

At troop and patrol gatherings you've recited the Scout Oath and the Scout Law dozens of times. The words come easily to you, but do you know what those words mean? The Scout Oath and Scout Law are not just for reciting at meetings. They are not just to be obeyed while you are wearing a uniform. The spirit of Scouting that they represent is every bit as important when you are at home, at school and in your community. The Scout Oath begins with the words, "On my honor. . ." Your honor is your word. By giving your word, you are promising to be of good character and to keep your reputation untarnished. Be trustworthy in all you say and do. Extend friendship to others. Be thrifty with your time and resources. Be tolerant of others, regardless of their differences, and celebrate the great diversity that enriches our nation and the world. Express reverence in accordance with your beliefs. Offer a helping hand because you want to, not because you expect a reward. The standards set by the Scout Oath and Scout Law are very high Strive to reach them every day, and you will find that they become as natural for you to live by as they are for you to say.

Star/Life/Eagle p170

BY NOW, DOING GOOD TURNS should be a regular part of your life You are always on the lookout for ways to help others. By now, Be Prepared should describe your efforts to make the most of educational opportunities, get along with others, and take part in outdoor adventures. By now, the Scout Oath and the twelve points of the Scout law should be the guidelines by which you direct your actions in your family, community, church, school, and nation. Living by these high standards is always a personal choice and something only you can fully measure. But by now, many other people should be seeing qualities in you that make it clear you are choosing

"Your standing as a Scout does not depend so much on the skills of your hands or the badges an your merit badge sash, as an the spirit in your heart on what you are willing to do for others, on whether you are doing your very best to live the Scout Oath and Law:'

What do you tell a scout who after you tell you will not sign off  the "Scout Spirit" requirement in his handbook, shows you the above? Nothing in it says the Scoutmaster or anyone else will judge your scouting spirit

I'd go through each one and ask him how he feels he has achieved each.

I'd take a moment to be delighted to know that at least one scout actually reads his book! (and then, probably what Ed said)

Yah, OGE, I think you've always made too much of da one paragraph in the second class requirements pages, eh? The point of the paragraph is that "character is what you do when no one else is watching." It's meant to tell da lad that even if he gets his SM to sign off on Scout Spirit, real scout spirit is what he's doin' when da Scoutmaster/teacher/coach/parent isn't watching. That only he can judge. Da handbook is callin' a lad to a deeper understandin' of character than what we can accomplish with external feedback.

But it's not sayin' he can sign off his own book, much as he might want to.

A lad who comes with that kind of argument is probably a bright kid, potential future attorney and all that. So I laugh with him, and tell him so.

Then we talk about real character a bit, and da difference sometimes between real character and what others see when you're askin' for a job, or an award. When you're askin' for a job or an award, other people evaluate your character based on what they can observe. Might not always be da "real you" or at least the you that you want to be. But it's da "you" that we see.

So since you're askin' me for an award, here's the "you" that I see... good and bad. And here's what I think yeh need to show before I can honestly say you deserve an award.

Then I tell him for Eagle, we'll be asking more than just us scout leaders about him, eh? We'll be talkin' to his friends, teachers, coaches, parents, employers, and religious leaders to report on what they've seen in his regular life.

Real character is measured not by da words on page whatever of the Boy Scout Handbook. It's measured by how you have touched all da people in your life.

Beavah

I have the Scout initial the book during the SMCs being held for Advancement purposes. We have usually already talked about the Troop, the boy's Patrol, and their goals for the future in and out of Scouting. I like to talk to them about each of the blocks, and comment on who signed their book.

Then I get to the last 3 - Spirit, SMC and BOR. I usually talk about the BOR and what sort of questions they might have. I help the Scout prep for those, to help him find his own answers.

Then I show them the Spirit portion. I ask them if they think that they can honestly sign for themselves, and where do they think that they need to try harder.

It is a great moment, and it reminds them that they have to impress the Man in the Mirror, not the guy in knee-high socks.

Hmmmm . . . OGE, what you quoted is not the requirement, it is just a bit of blather about the subject. The requirement is still "Demonstrate Scout Spirit by living the Scout Oath and Scout Law in your everyday life."

If I'm the SM, to sign I have to judge if that requirement has been met. In olden days, the SM called others and asked them what you were like. Now, that's no longer recommended. So if I know that Johnny was busted for shoplifting and gets into fights at school because he's taking kids' lunch money, he hasn't demonstrated what he needs to demonstrate.

Gotta stick with the requirements, not the blathering.

What I quoted is from the Handbook, perhaps one can explain to me which parts are blather and which is important as clearly I can not draw that distinction

There is far more to the handbook than just the pages that list the requirement. the majority of the handbbok explains the requirements and how to do the skills you are tested on.

The passages shared by OGE from the Boy Scout Handbook do just that. There is only one requiremement that the program says should be approved by the Scoutmaster and that is the Scoutmaser Conference. For all other requirements they (excluding merit badges) they can be tested and approved by whomever the Scoutmaster approves. In the case of Scout Spirit, the BSA says that it is unique from all other requirements and is best determined by the Scout himself.

I meet a lot of Scout leader all over the country nearly every year. No where bu on ths forum do I meet so many who work so hard to NOT follow the program elements of the BSA.

There is only one requiremement that the program says should be approved by the Scoutmaster and that is the Scoutmaser Conference. For all other requirements they (excluding merit badges) they can be tested and approved by whomever the Scoutmaster approves. In the case of Scout Spirit, the BSA says that it is unique from all other requirements and is best determined by the Scout himself.

I might be wrong, but the Scoutmaster is responsible for advancement in the unit. Now the Scoutmaster has the option to, but isn't required to, approve someone else to test & approve rank requirements. So to state There is only one requiremement that the program says should be approved by the Scoutmaster and that is the Scoutmaser Conference is not accurate. And it is the Scout who best determines Scout Spirit for himself. But that does not mean the Scout is permitted to sign this requirement. Nowhere does it state the Scout may do that. The requirement starts with "Demonstrate" which, to me, means the Scout has to show and/or tell someone.

I don't think the posters in these forums have a problem following the program elements. I'd go as far to say the posters on this board probably follow the program elements better than most!

Ed Mori

1 Peter 4:10

"What I quoted is from the Handbook, perhaps one can explain to me which parts are blather and which is important as clearly I can not draw that distinction "

It's pretty simple, the requirements are the part that you find listed in the requirements book or in the list of requirements, the rest is just blather.