Scouts , Citizenship and Politics

Scouts are expected to engage actively in all aspects of good citizenship.

Citizenship and politics are inextricably linked together. What, then can Scouter’s do to minimize the divisiveness of politics while still modeling citizenship for their Scouts?

Scoutmasters should guard against expressing their own partisan views while encouraging active, informed citizenship. For those of us who are politically active this can be an especially fine line. In the coming year we have the opportunity to quell some of the inevitable divisiveness that accompanies a hotly contested presidential election. When Scouts ask “who are you voting for?” or question your opinion on some political controversy I answer that my personal opinion is simply not relevant in my role as a Scoutmaster. It is my job to get them to examine all sides of an issue and to think for themselves. Our political process is inherently confrontational because individual freedom allows for a wide spectrum of opinion. It is likely that the members of a Scout troop will have differences of opinion that reflect the wider society. But the strongest citizenship lesson in Scouting is that people of differing political opinions can share common ethics.

Scouts are exemplary citizens of our community, our nation and the world because we can all unite around a set of common values that outweigh the petty distinctions of politics.