FOREWORD FOR INSTRUCTOR.
[N.B.—Remarks printed in italics are, throughout the book, addressed to the Instructor.]
By the term "Instructor" I mean any man or lad who takes up the training of either a Patrol(i.e.,six to eight boys),or a Troopi.e., (several Patrols joined together).
By means of this book I hope that anyone, even without previous knowledge of scouting, may be able to teach it to boys—in town just as well as in the country.
The system is applicable to existing organisations such as schools, boys' brigades, cadet corps, etc., or can supply a simple organisation of its own where these do not exist. But in all cases I would strongly commend the "Patrol" system: that is, small permanent groups, each under responsible charge of a leading boy, as the great step to success.
The reasons for this, the objects of the training and full hints to Instructors I have already published in a pamphlet called "The Boy Scouts Scheme." Price Twopence. Published by Bradbury, Agnew, Bouverie Street, London, E.C. They will be further set forth in Part VI. of the present book.
I recommend the Instructor to begin with a Patrol of eight boys if possible, and when these have qualified as "First-class Scouts" to select the best five or six to raise each a patrol of his own and instruct it under his (the Instructor's) supervision.
A great step is to obtain, if possible, a room, barn, or school to serve as a Club, especially for work on long winter evenings. It must be well-lit and warmed. And to have a camp-out in the summer.
There need be no great expense in working a troop of Boy Scouts.
Finance must largely depend on the efforts of the Scouts themselves. Methods for making money will be indicated inPart IV. I do not hold with begging for funds if it can possibly be avoided.
Any further information or advice will readily be given on application, and I shall be glad to have any suggestions or informal reports of progress and numbers trained. But I have no desire to trouble Instructors with red-tape returns, and so on.
Scouts' Badges, Medals, Patrol Flags, and Crests, Tracking Irons, and such articles of scouts' equipment, can be obtained at low rates on application here.
All communications should be addressed, not to me by name, but to:
THE MANAGER,Boy Scouts,Goschen Buildings,Henrietta Street,London, E.C.R. S. S. B.-P.January, 1908.
THE MANAGER,Boy Scouts,Goschen Buildings,Henrietta Street,London, E.C.R. S. S. B.-P.January, 1908.
THE MANAGER,Boy Scouts,Goschen Buildings,Henrietta Street,London, E.C.
THE MANAGER,
Boy Scouts,
Goschen Buildings,
Henrietta Street,
London, E.C.
R. S. S. B.-P.January, 1908.
R. S. S. B.-P.
January, 1908.