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Whenever two or three Scouters get together talk eventually turns to the relevance of Scouting in ‘modern society’.
Some think we’ve diminished the ideals of ‘manliness’ , traditional patriotism, bootstrap initiative, competitiveness and rigor in achievement but have they really examined what those ideas actually mean? Scouting does not consider that these things are scarce, unobtainable qualities, but that each individual Scout has vast potential to develop them .
We wrangle and argue over measurements; what is ‘true’ manliness, patriotism, achievement? Instead of a system of measurement Scouting sets a star to travel by: the full realization of each individual Scout’s potential. Our principal aim is that individual ideal; interdependent, useful human beings who become active citizens and make the world a better place.
Detractors invoke creeping ‘political correctness’ and suggest that we have watered down our decisiveness and morality. This old chestnut of an argument was used to condemn innovation and change since the dawn of civilization; “Romans are so trendy and effete – what ever happened to good old Etruscans?” In their opinion all we have to do is reprint the original edition of the Scout handbook and return to our imagined ideal past that, of course, never existed. Nostalgia is pleasant, but it is not history. Our forebears had to muddle through the same sorts of flaws and pressures we encounter. They did there best and so can we.
Scouting has always been, and will always remain, something that principally happens when we are out-of-doors camping and trekking our way through the natural world. This is our tradition, but we don’t do follow tradition blindly.
We don’t go camping as a romantic, aesthetic, throwback to the good old days. We go camping because it is the most useful way to achieve the aims of Scouting. We use patrols and engage youth in leadership not because it’s a quaint, anachronistic, tradition but because that’s how we achieve the aims of Scouting.
Most importantly we do these things because that is what our Scouts want to do! Despite a century of societal and cultural changes there’s not much difference between present day Scouts and those few that camped out on Brownsea island at the dawn of the Scouting movement.
That’s our past, present and future all rolled into one.
Our Scouts neither need, nor do they particularly want, big flashy programs and entertainments. We aren’t trying to entertain, we want to engage our Scouts.
Scouting is relevant, and it will always be, so long as we don’t make it into a historic re-enactment, blindly follow tradition, and resist the temptation to misdirect it’s simple intentions.
Scouting is not about recreating the past, we are looking toward the future.
While I agree with much of what you say here, I must admit I’m a bit confused about the sentiment and message of this post.
For instance you say: “Despite a century of societal and cultural changes there’s not much difference between present day Scouts and those few that camped out on Brownsea island at the dawn of the Scouting movement.” But on the other hand you constantly urge throughout your blog the importance of returning to the Patrol System as the historical Scouts practiced it.
You say that the “ideal” we imagine simply did not exist in the past. I don’t think anyone argues that the past was perfect. They strove toward the ideal of Scouting just as we do today. What I do know is that all I’ve read from old pamphlets, magazines, and books indicates that the Scouts of the past had a clearer vision of the ideal of Scouting and more passion to pursue it.
You said: “Detractors … suggest that we have watered down our decisiveness and morality. This old chestnut of an argument was used to condemn innovation and change since the dawn of civilization”
But this argument that you say condemns innovation seems to me to be the exact one used by Baden-Powell and many others in support of the Scouting Movement. Part of the reason Baden-Powell founded Scouting was because he felt that the youth of Britain were not receiving the character training that was necessary to keep Britain up to the high standards of the past.
Baden-Powell constantly referred to the Knights and Chivalry of old as standards that Scouts should try to emulate. Nostalgia isn’t a bad thing; it’s picking the good things from the past and striving to emulate it.
I guess I might be just misunderstanding you. I do definitely agree with your message that it is harmful to be living in the past. We live in the present, and the future is our responsibility. We shouldn’t gripe and complain about how bad the present is compared to the past so much that we actually forget out duty for present. That doesn’t do anybody any good.
However, I believe that Rediscovering the good things of the past is necessary to fulfill our responsibility to the present. I’m 18; I’ve got my feet firmly planted in the present. I’m also an amateur Scouting Historian. Some things were better in the past, and we would do well by striving to emulate them.
Well said Enoch! I go off on a tear sometimes, I don’t think we actually disagree, I just expressed myself inartfully.
When I say Scouts are the same now as they were then, I mean to say that human nature has not changed.
You say that the “ideal” we imagine simply did not exist in the past. I don’t think anyone argues that the past was perfect. They strove toward the ideal of Scouting just as we do today. What I do know is that all I’ve read from old pamphlets, magazines, and books indicates that the Scouts of the past had a clearer vision of the ideal of Scouting and more passion to pursue it.
Neither you or I were there, so it’s hard to know. I don’t think they got things any more right, or had any clearer understanding or passion. You and other Scouts and Scouters I meet are the best evidence that I may be right.
Part of the reason Baden-Powell founded Scouting was because he felt that the youth of Britain were not receiving the character training that was necessary to keep Britain up to the high standards of the past.
Yes he did, and If I was there at the time I don’t think I would have agreed with him totally. I would have said our youth always need good influences and the other things Scouting offers,
Nostalgia isn’t a bad thing; it’s picking the good things from the past and striving to emulate it.
I was trying to contrast nostalgia (defined as a sentimental memory) with history, a more reliable (albeit not always reliable) way to picture the past. Nostalgia tends to, as you say, polish off all the rough edges and creates an ideal picture.
Some things were better in the past, and we would do well by striving to emulate them.
Agreed! Scouting is based in ideals that have marked every page of human history. Naturally a lot of bad things have too. It is our job, as you say, to carry the good things forward. I, for one am encourage that you do!