Discomforts with Scouting

In 1899 a book titled Aids to Scouting by Lieutenant General Robert S.S.Baden-Powell was published. The book was written as a military textbook. When Baden-Powell discovered that his military textbook was being used to train boys in Woodcraft, he wrote an outline for a boys scouting book. Scouting For Boys was issued in 1908. To become a scout a boy would promise to be loyal to his country, help other people, and in general obey the scout law, itself a simple code of chivalrous behavior easily understood by the boy. Baden-Powell became famous for founding the boy scout movement.

In America, naturalists like Ernest Thompson Seton furthered the boy scouting movement. Deeply concerned with the future of the prairie, Seton fought vigorously to establish reservations for Indians and parks for animals threatened by extinction. In order to provide children with the opportunities for nature study, he founded the Woodcraft Indians in 1902 and later was chairman of the committee that established the Boy Scouts of America.

Today, the military and naturalist roots of the boys scout program continue. In every country where scouting exists it involves a scout oath or promise; a scout law and a promise to obey the leader of the pack. The program continues its aim to instill boys with good citizenship, chivalrous behavior, and skill in various outdoor activities.

Today I was at swim, and had been in the car reading Margurite Duras’, The War. I went in to take care of swim business, and as often happens, we parents started talking about scouts. When I said, “I hope Harrison gets his Eagle,” a fellow mom railed into me, “You hope, hope he gets his Eagle?” She detected what I call, my scouting discomfort, and she was not pleased. She went on to tell me how she limits wii and driving privileges until certain scouting honors have been received.

I had just been reading The War, a memoir about World War II, otherwise I would have sucked it like I always do. Listen to the fanatics. Nod head. Pretend like opinion is completely aligned with theirs. But no, the image of little boys in uniforms and handkerchiefs rang in my mind, boys with ranks and insignia. This boys group emphasized physical training more than academic study. They sang out nationalism. In the name of good citizenship, love of country, following the pack and keeping the oath, they prepared for entry into the Third Reich.

I told this woman that I thought my discomfort with the scouting program was legitimate. That scouting concepts were founded in military training. She kept yacking. Then I left.

I want to tell her about Hitler’s Youth, which adopted boy scout principles. I want to tell her detail after detail of Abu Graib. Then I want to ask her if there might be some danger in nationalism, pack mentality, lack of intellectual vigor. She would probably tell me no, which is the infuriating thing about fanatics.

I still hope Harrison gets his eagle. And I remain completely comfortable with my discomfort for scouting.