Scouting, Volume 38, Number 7, September 1950 Page: 11
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TRAIN FOR
CITIZENSHIP
★ The Crusade To Strengthen Liberty will, in a
sense, never end. After Anniversary Week
next February, the crusade targets of Leadership,
Program, and Membership will continue to be so
essential in giving boys good Scouting that they
will remain our goals.
Those are signposts along the road toward the
ultimate destination we seek for our youth —
responsible citizenship. To reach there, our boys
need and deserve every bit of help we can give
them. Then they can work with us in proving that
constructive Americanism is the best weapon
against destructive Communism.
Previous Scouting articles have pointed out the
need for "specifics on citizenship training" and
"more definite steps toward Americanism." A tool
kit for getting down to the brass tacks of the prac-
tice of citizenship has been provided in the Citizen-
ship Manual (Cat. No. 3290).
The final quarter of the Crusade just ahead is
an opportune time for special emphasis on training
in true Americanism. To reach the boys and young
men, this emphasis must be made in their own
Units. Succeeding issues of Scouting will sug-
gest specific ways of doing this in four phases:
Home Citizenship, Community Citizenship, Na-
tional Citizenship, and World Citizenship.
Fresh in mind are the patriotic inspiration of
the Jamboree in the historic settings of Valley
Forge and Philadelphia, crucible and cradle of
American liberty. Against this background we must
give our Scouts and Explorers the facts about
Americanism and involve them more consciously
in the practices of citizenship through projects.
Use Citizenship Manual
We can help them grasp an understanding of
what America stands for. We can help them eval-
uate its merits and its points which need improve-
ment. We can awaken them to appreciate their
extreme good fortune in being Americans living in
the United States. Pages 2-21 of the Citizenship
manual will be helpful in doing these things.
We will help establish in them the habit of
participating citizenship by indicating the tie be-
tween citizenship training and the Good Turn and
service project. This should be done without
preaching but by pointing out that citizenship
means doing more than talking. Pages 41-45 of the
manual suggest service projects.
Two appropriate occasions when Troop or Ex-
plorer Unit meetings may appropriately be devoted
completely or largely to citizenship are Constitu-
tion Day, September 17, and Bill of Rights Day,
December 15. Granted that the Constitution of the
United States and its amendments are not easy to
understand, yet they are the very foundation of
our political, social, and economic liberty. In short
they reach into the lives of all of us every day.
To be an intelligent citizen, Scouts and Explorers
must have some understanding of them.
In terms of boys' ideas, the manual presents the
Constitution on pages25-31,and the Bill of Rights on
pages 31-37. In connection with our rights the "Bill
of Responsibilities" on pages 37-40 should be con-
sidered. From this material a panel discussion or a
question and answer session may be developed. Let
the Scouts and Explorers express themselves in
their own words. You can't be sure they under-
stand what they are talking about until they do it
that way.
Apply Showmanship
Such presentations should be "glamorized" or
put on with a touch of showmanship. For instance,
an ordinary question and answer period will be
far more interesting when conducted like a quizz
show on the radio. Use a fake microphone. Call the
leader the master of ceremonies, and the Scouts or
Explorers contestants.
Yes, and award a prize. A few dollars worth of
outdoor equipment awarded to the fellow who
knows the most about citizenship is a worthwhile
investment. Announce the program and prize far
enough ahead to induce the fellows to get Citizen-
ship manuals and study them.
As a leader in citizenship training, Scouting
must redouble its efforts in the field. The time is
now, for the need grows greater. Make better
citizenship happen in your Unit this fall.
FOR ALL SCOUTERS
SEPTEMBER, 1950
11
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Boy Scouts of America. Scouting, Volume 38, Number 7, September 1950, periodical, September 1950; New York, New York. (https://texashistory.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metapth313166/m1/13/: accessed May 5, 2024), University of North Texas Libraries, The Portal to Texas History, https://texashistory.unt.edu; crediting Boy Scouts of America National Scouting Museum.