Scout Laws – in Lego Wednesday, Jun 8 2011

On Twitter (as @leftwelly) I set a challenge – to show each of the Scout Laws as a small Lego model, the base plate being no bigger than 10×10 studs. I didn’t think it would be fair to set such a challenge and not have a go myself, so my seven models are shown below.  What I will do later this year is to  look at each Law in turn and expand on my thinking for the model and the Law itself.

It is worth noting that building these models – and being able to talk about it – forms the requirements for the UK Scout Model Maker’s activity badge – alternative A.  Good luck!

Scout Laws, a set on Flickr.

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TLW Challenge: starting 22 November Friday, Nov 19 2010

Next week is the District Scout Quiz – so this will run for a couple of weeks. All you need to do is add a comment below, or email your answer to the leaders (or, as a 3rd option, write your answer on a piece of paper), to answer this question:

Which of the Scout Laws do you think is the most important FOR YOU… and WHY?

The Scout Laws can be found on the TLW website here: http://2leftwellies.wordpress.com/the-scout-law-and-promise/ , if you’re not sure exactly what they are.

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What is a Scout? Tuesday, Sep 21 2010

At the last Scout meeting, we worked with the Scouts to develop the Acceptable Behaviour Agreement. Whilst this is (I understand) a fairly common thing for schools and other youth groups, as I worked through the list of what the Scouts had thought was reasonable - and what wasn’t  – I started to link each of them back to the Scout Promise and Law.  At the end, each one was referenced in the Promise that every Scout makes when they are presented with their membership badges.

So, whilst I can recognise that a young person will still be developing as they get older, I ask the question – what is a Scout?

I think it’s quite simple.  A Scout is a young person that wants to be a Scout and as such will do their best to keep the values of the Scout Law.  It extends beyond just being nice to other people, but taking pride in their appearance, recognising that they are part of a team and wanting to be part of that for as long as they are in that Section (where, it is hoped, they will go onto the next section).  It also extends way beyond a person’s age and which Scout section they happen to be in; actually, it could be suggested that “once a Scout, always a Scout” – even if you leave the Movement!

It’s a tough call to be a Scout – but then, no-one said it was easy which is why the Scout Promise starts “On my Honour, I Promise that I will do my best….”

Some could argue that it’s easy for me to write this – after all, I’m an Assistant Scout Leader and it’s my job. That, I guess, is partly true – but I was also a Cub, a Scout, a Venture Scout before I became a Leader.  Whilst I have held a Leader’s warrant I have made the same promise several times as I became an Assistant District Commissioner and a District Commissioner, before taking it a second time as an Assistant Scout Leader.  Effectively, the Promise is something which has formed and guided my life for what is now 34 years.  But it is the same promise I made when I was ten years old when I joined Scouts.

So really, the question that you need to ask yourself as you put on that uniform shirt is this – do you want to be a Scout, or are you just putting on a shirt with a few badges on it?

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A Scout has Self respect and respect for others Monday, Jul 12 2010

 

It’s not often that I write an article for the Two Left Wellies about how a Scout should behave.  Good Scout behaviour is ultimately guided by the Scout Law - a very simple set of rules.  One of those Laws is that “A Scout has Self Respect and Respect for Others”.

 

 

On camps this year, I have been surprised by the Scouts definition of Respect. The current way of thinking (if I am to believe what I am told) is that effectively no-one starts with any respect and that it is earned every time.  You can’t just “demand” or “expect” respect from others – so that Teachers are put in a difficult position as they will not earn respect as they get the kids to do homework and punish them.

 

So how do you get respect? Well, it seems that peer-pressure and being cool (that is just doing stuff that you agree with) is the short cut.  But is that the right way?

 

I had a think about this over the weekend.  When I was growing up, teachers and people in position of authority would be automatically be given an element of respect because of the position that they held.  A teacher would have respect as they had a wealth of knowledge that they would pass on to me and which I might find useful in later life (20+ years later I can now say that some of those things are not of use for me now, but I recognise if I had gone for a career in woodwork they might have done).  Then, as I spent more time with that teacher I may then give them further personal respect for the way in which they instructed me (and again, many years later there are still teachers who I recall by name)

 

So, starting from zero respect – is that a good thing?  I don’t think so, and that’s because of the other part to respect – getting respect back.

 

When you give someone respect, there is a silent agreement that you will receive some back.  So if you give someone no respect – how can you expect to get them to give you respect either?

 

 

From a teacher / scout leader point of view then:  a new Scout (or student) joins the class.  Initially the leader will give that student some respect – a hope that they will want to learn or study and that they will do so in a way that will also allow all the others in the class (or Troop) to learn as well.  Then, over time, the leader will then get to know that Scout better.  If the Scout is showing a willingness to learn (constructively) then the Leader will give that Scout more respect; it may be that respect will be shown by promoting them to Assistant Patrol Leader or even Patrol Leader; or they may suggest opportunities that they feel a Scout may benefit from.  Note that from a Scouting perspective this willingness is shown in the Scout wanting to learn themselves, not to show off to the leader.

However, if a Scout should decide that they don’t wish to be constructive or helpful, then it is natural for a Leader to lose respect for that Scout – and this can be demonstrated by taking some action (which can be talking to them about their behaviour or more extreme actions such as not allowing them to take part in evenings and activities).

 

 

However, this isn’t a one-way road.  If a Scout misbehaves and the Leader does caution them then some respect will be lost – however, if the Scout then listens to that caution and decides to change their behaviour then the Leader will start to give that Scout more respect; again, a recognition of the Scouts willingness to learn.

 

 

The Scout Law refers to two types of respect – respect for others and a respect for self.

The second part to this is a topic big enough for an article in itself, but it is worth noting that both are linked together; a Scout (or indeed Leader) that shows little respect for themselves (which could be their conduct, the state of their uniform) will find that others will lose their respect for them also.

 

 

 

The Scout Law is a simple set of rules for good living.  Whilst all the rules are very simple in what they ask us to do they will also provide us with a great challenge to make sure that we live by them.

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S.P. and Law – A Scout has Self-respect and Respect for others Monday, Jul 6 2009

The last of the Scout Laws; a Scout has self-respect and respect for others. 

 So what does RESPECT mean?  The dictionary term (the one that we’re interested in) defined respect as being “the state of being honoured or esteemed”. 

 To me, to have respect for others means listening to their point of view; even if you disagree with it (and that’s fine) it’s not about saying “you’re wrong”, but more “I see things differently”.  As an example, I may state that “Dangermouse”* was the best children’s cartoon ever – you may disagree and believe that it was “Pokemon” (I wouldn’t say you were wrong… but you are!)  If someone IS wrong (say, they state that the answer to 2 + 3 is 8 ) having respect for others doesn’t mean that you immediately shout them down, show yourself to be superior, or make fun of them.  It is about asking them how they arrived at that statement – it could have been a simple mistake.

 Respect for yourself should not be any more challenging, but it can be.  You’ll note that there has been no laws about exercise, healthy eating, or health in general – and that’s because of this law.  Self respect is about making sure that you – as a machine – are properly maintained and looked after so you will work properly; it’s about you making sure that you make the best of yourself which may mean studying properly and not just wasting your talents by mucking about.

  

This is the last of the Scout Laws, so next week I’ll start to look at the Promise.

 

 

 *Dangermouse was a British cartoon made by Cosgrove/Hall in the 1980’s.  It featured the voices of David Jason and Terry Scott.  For more information on this most excellent of series, go to www.dangermouse.org

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S.P. & Law – A Scout has courage in all difficulties Tuesday, Jun 23 2009

This is a fairly straightforward Law – to have courage – but in ALL difficulties?

One meaning of the word courage that I have found is “the quality of mind or or spirit that enables a person to face difficulty, danger, pain etc without difficulty or fear; bravery”

 

But before you start thinking that in order to meet the requirements of this Law, every Scout must have the sort of attitude that Superman would have been envious of, have some bravery in it.  This law is not saying that you have to be fear-less – it’s OK to be nervous or scared about a situation or being asked to do something (example: I’m not very happy with heights, my friend doesn’t like speaking in front of a room of strangers, another friend doesn’t like climbing trees). 

 

In my case, I don’t go looking for climbing walls and abseiling towers and cliff faces to climb to “conquer my fear”, but if I’m with my Scout Troop and one of my Scouts has got scared on a climbing wall (and it’s safe for me to do so) I will climb up to help them.  At that point, I take courage and do it.

 

As another example: If I’m walking with my Scouts and we get to somewhere that we didn’t expect (I wouldn’t say “lost” – others might though )and it starts to get dark and it begins to rain,  this Law really comes into effect.  It’s about not just sitting down saying “I’m cold and lost and I’m not going any further” it’s about saying “OK, we need to get out of the rain and work out where we are; let’s get a plan together”.

 

Before 1968 there was a much bigger set of Scout laws, and this used to say “A Scout smiles and Whistles under all circumstances”.  Whilst the intention is the same – to provide the Scout with a mask of courage; it is very difficult to smile and whistle at the same time!

 

So your challenge to meet this law… how will you react when you are asked to do something that you don’t really want to do?

 

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S.P. & Law – A Scout is a member of the World-Wide family of Scouts Monday, Jun 15 2009

When you head down to your Scout Hall on Troop night, you know that you are part of a group of Scouts.  When you’re invested, you are given badges that reflect your membership to the District, County and to the wider family of Scouts.

 

It’s worth knowing how big that family is.  Scouting is active in 216 countries and territories across the world.  Globally there is a membership of over 28 million!  Even in the UK 400,000 young people aged 6-25 are members.  Oh, and in addition there are the many leaders and helpers that run the programmes too!

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S.P. & Law – a Scout is Friendly and considerate Monday, Jun 8 2009

This law is a little more complex than the previous two as it is saying that you must be “something AND something” and that these two somethings are linked together.

 So what do the words “Friendly” and “Considerate” mean on their own?  To me friendly means “approachable”, “nice”, “on the same side” (amongst other things).  Considerate means “Thinks of others”.

 So in a nutshell, this is someone who is helpful, friendly and does what others want them to do?  Well yes, but not really.  This is someone who can be approached to do something but will think of others before they do what is asked.

 As an example: you’re having a party at your house and your friend asks you to turn the volume up on the stereo as the music is too quiet.  Whilst you might want to agree with him, you also think of the neighbours next door (will it be too loud and disturb them) – so you may decide not to turn up the volume, but could explain to your friend why.

 As another example: you don’t really want to go to Scouts but your parents make you go anyway.  Whilst the easiest (and selfish route) for you may be to be disruptive during the evening (after all, *you* didn’t want to go), you also think of how the other Scouts will enjoy the evening – and the effort that the Leaders have put in to making the evening interesting for the troop.  Instead, being friendly and considerate, you take part in the evening and make the best of it… and possibly enjoy yourself too.

 I think it’s important to also recognise that the Law doesn’t state “A Scout is Friendly and considerate of others”; as a Scout you also need to take into consideration your own needs as well.  There’s no point in just going out with your mates every night because they ask you to if it means that your homework doesn’t get done.

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The Scout Promise and Law – A Scout is Loyal Monday, Jun 1 2009

This is an interesting second Law, as to some extent it can be understood in a number of ways.  Other words that could be used for Loyal include “tied to”, “allegiance”, “commitment”, “faithfulness”. 

 To keep it simple – if you support a football team and you follow their matches, celebrate when they win, feel a bit sad when they lose – then it could be said that you are loyal to your football team; you don’t just follow the game of football and not really switch from team to team because they are winning. 

 But what does it mean for a Scout to be Loyal?  Loyal to what exactly?

 The Scout Law doesn’t say “A Scout is Loyal to his Patrol, his Troop, etc” – so it must be bigger than that. To me, there is a need for a Scout to be Loyal to his Patrol, Troop, Group, District, County and to the Association – after all, you wear the membership badges on your uniform.

 However – and this I think is the important bit – you are also loyal to what makes Scout a Scout; showing the world that you are a Scout, even when you don’t wear the uniform.

 

I suppose as we look at what it means to be loyal we should also look at what it doesn’t mean.  It doesn’t mean that we follow blindly – if the manager of your football team said that he wanted all the fans to send the club all their left socks so they only ever wore right socks I doubt many would do it (but you can bet a few fans will!).

 It also doesn’t mean that because we have loyalty to something we work to ignore everything else.  In our lives we may be loyal to many things – clubs, schools, family – so there is a need to consider what the impact may be of doing something over another (such as going to the disco instead of Scouts). 

  

If “A Scout is to be trusted” is the most important of the Scout Laws, then “A Scout is Loyal” is probably the most complicated.

So – what are you loyal to?

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The Scout Law and Promise – A Scout is to be Trusted Wednesday, May 27 2009

As Scouts, we are asked to make the Scout Promise.  This is quite a simple, but very powerful statement:

On my honour, I promise to do my best

To do my Duty to God and to the Queen

To help other people

And to keep the Scout Law.

 

It’s quite clever in that you are not promising to ALWAYS do the things in the promise, but that you will always TRY to do the things in the promise.  It recognises that we will all fail sometimes but that we are going to do our best to meet up to the promise and law.

 

So, what is the Scout Law?  The Law is a collection of seven simple statements, which collectively state what it is to be a Scout today.  There have been some minor tweaks over the years, but these are little more than changes to the words and terms that we used to use.  The Scout law is this:

1. A Scout is to be trusted.
2. A Scout is loyal.
3. A Scout is friendly and considerate.
4. A Scout belongs to the world-wide family of Scouts.
5. A Scout has courage in all difficulties.
6. A Scout makes good use of time and is careful of possessions and property.
7. A Scout has self-respect and respect for others.

Before we invest new members into the Scout Group, we go through the Promise and Law and ensure that the new member understands what they are about to sign up for.

 My intention is to take each of the Laws, and Sections of the Promise – and break them down to explain them.

 

So, let’s start with that first Scout Law:

A SCOUT IS TO BE TRUSTED

It’s no surprise that this is the first law.  This, above all others, starts to define what a Scout is.

The word Trust comes from the Middle English truste, which may in turn have come from the Old Norse word traust, meaning confidence. 

So what does it mean – to be trusted?  Well, if I asked you to look after my big pile of jam doughnuts and not to eat any, and you (as a Scout) said that you would, then I should be happy in going off to get large bottles of fizzy drink to go with my doughnuts, knowing that when I got back I wouldn’t just have a pile of crumbs and someone sat by them with their mouth covered in sugar as they had stuffed them all in.

It also means that if I ask you if these trainers that I am about to buy look alright that when you say “they’re really good” then I can be happy that I am not going to look silly when I wear them next (and that people will also like the fact that they have flashing lights on the heels)

It also means that if I were to say “we’re going camping in Dorset, do you want to come?” and you say “I must check with my parents” that you will check with your parents (also, that you will tell us if you can come – but that’s the subject for another Law). 

I would also add that “to be trusted” means that if you were to say “I can’t come out tonight I have to stay in and do my homework”  that you are actually staying in – and not just going out with some other friends to a party.

 

So be trusted is quite a heavy responsibility to take on.  As a Scout – can you be TRUSTED?

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