The patrol method

Media

Part of The Young Citizen: The Magazine for Young People

Title: The patrol method
Year: 1937
Rights
Fulltext: ./1we, 1937 THE YOUNG CITIZEN 161 AMONG THE BOY SCOUTSBy Ricardo de la Cruz" School Opening The coming of June ends the vacation and starts the school year. To Scouts, it means a departure from camps, a return to books ~.nd pads. Let us make this a really good school year. The School serves as th~ everyday citizenshipIJboracory of the Scout. In school. he has a great deal of ~pportunities to put into practice th,: S.:::out 0Jth and Law. Let us not permit those opportunities to pass away unheeded. Let us prove to the world that a Scout is "physically strong, mentally awake, and morally straight." A hove all, let us show that a Scout is "PREPARED." "Well begun," 'tis said, '"is half done." This is an old, old saying, but ir is always true. Let us begin the school year as best as we can. It may be difficult to start the ''grind," after such a happy vacation. Yet, let us not forget 'that the vacation is but to prepare us for a new school year. Are we "PREPARED'.' I The Patrol Method ··The Patrol Method is not one method in which Scouting can be carried on. It is the OXLY method!'"-Roland Phillips. This is a statement of fact. The Patrol Method is the foundation of Scouting. Select a group of thirty boys, give them three projects to do, and in three minutes, you will notice smaller groups emerging from that group. Each boy has his own opinions, and when two or three boys concur. a gang is formed. The Patrol is nothing but a gang. Unlike c thcr gangs. however. it is orderly organized. ;nd is under only one leader-the Patrol Leader. Y cars and years of the existence of Scouting have proven that a Troop can be run successfully only by availing ourselves of the opportunities and benefits of the Patrol method. The very first matter that should be given .;;.Uention as soon as a new Troop is formed, is the organization of Patrols. Each Patrol has eight boys as its maximum membership. Of these eight, one is the Patrol Leader and another i:- the Assistant Patrol Leader. In cases when the Scoutmaster is new and. therefore. is not acquainted with his ·boys and is * Manager; Publicity Department, Philippine Council, B.S.A. ignorant of their characteristics. it is advisable that the Patrol Leaders be appointed. The Scoutmaster may appoint anybody whom, he feels. is capable of handling a group of seven boys. (Of course, if. at a future date, he finds the boy incapable, he will have to change him. By that time, he will have become acquainted with the others.) In cases, however, when a re-organization is going on, and the Scoutmaster knows his Scouts. the wise path to follow is to let the boys elect their leaders. No one but the boys know better the best man to lead them. Only in very few cases (exceptionally few) are the boys' decisions wrong. in which instances. the Scciutmaster should make use of his veto power and select another Patrol Leader. As soon as the Patrol Leader is selected. it falls upon him to appoint his Assistant. From lhen on, the lroop's success depends mostly upon the proper application of the Patrol Method. In troops meetings, contests, hikes, and camps. the Patrol Method is always the basic system of operation. It is an excellent exa~plc of "multiplying one's self through others."' Give the Patrol Leaders real responsibility. Make them (Please t1irn to page 164) 164 THE YOUNG CITIZEN AMONG THE BOY SCOUTS THE YOUNG CITIZEN . (Continued from page 165) real leaders. They are responsible for attendance, dues, health and safety, and troop activities. Boys have always the "gang spirit Normal attempts at applying the Patrol Method will produce good results. The names of patrols should depend upon the decision of the boys. The most common ones are those of animals and birds. "Flying Eagle" Patrol. "Fox" Patrol. "Bear" Patrol. "Cobra" Patrol. etc,-these names appeal to the boys. Each patrol has a patrol flag, its. emblem. It is always a thrill co march beneath that significant banner. Patrols have their own calls. their own yells and songs. Very often. much fun can be had at singing and yelling contests. The ··oog" Patrol barks. (Boys do know how to bark.) And the "Cacs" answer with a loud "meow." The "'Flying Eagles" screech. the "Owls" hoot, and pretty soon. a forest serenade is in the air. The Scoutmaster who makes use of the Patrol Method wisely will always feel at ease concerning his troop's progress, and will have more time for other things more important than meeting routines. The boys can go on without much preoccupation on his part. Sometimes, a Scoutmaster comes in and tells us his troubles. He is disappointed with the Patrol Method. It doesn't work as effectively as guarante~d. The previous week, he announced that there would be a waterboiling contest the following week. The date came, orie patrol leader was absent, three pa(Continued from page 162) Wash. peel. and dice the lacatan bananas. Peel the oranges and divide into sections. Remove the seeds and skin. Divide the mango, scoop the flesh and dice into cubes also. Mix all together. Add a little sugar and enough milk to moisten the mixture. Wash the lettuce leaves and wipe dry with a clean piece of cloth. Arrange attractively on a platter or salad dish. Pour the mixture. Peel the lanzones and arrange the seedless segments nice.Jy on top. Serve cold, if possible. trols didn't bring any equipment, and the one w h i c h brought didn't know what to do with it. The Scoutmaster blames the Patrol Method. He should blame himself. His Patrol Leaders were not trained in the right manner. They had nol b"een made to realize the responsibility that their positions entailed. Working through Patrol Leaders is effective. Do not be afraid to give them work. Tell Juan to be in charge of pitching the tents during the camp. Pedro is the Chief Cook, Pablo is the one assigned to construct the toilets, while Martin leads the boys to the forest to get firewood. In no time, you will see each of these jobs finished,and finished satisfactorily too, if you have made the right choice in selecting your men. "The Patrol Method is not one method in which Scouting can be carried on. It is the ONLY method!" (b) Yi. ripe papaya Vi pineapple June, 19!17 4 bananas (lacatan) 2 atis 20 ripe ratiles a few lettuce lea,ves \Vash, pare, and dice the papaya into cubes. Wash, pare, and remove the eyes of the pineapple. Rub with salt and rinse well. Dice into cubes. Wash. peel. and dice the bananas. Break open the atis and remove the pulp from the seeds with 2 forks. Mix all i~gredients. Add a little sugar and enough milk to moisten the mixture. Proceed as i.n (a) and garnish on top with the ratiles. Serve cold, if possible. AMBROSIA young cocoO:ut (buco) pineapple native oranges (naranjita) or pomeio (suha) Wash, pare, and remove the eyes of the pineapple. Rub with sart and rinse. Cut into rings and remove the core in the middle. Peel the native oraO.ges. Di~ vide into sections and remove the seeds and skin. Break open the young coconut. Scoop the meat with the coconut shredder. Mix this and the grains of the native oranges. Add a little sugar. Fill the hollow of the pine?pple rings with this and put some more by heaps on top. Be careful not to let this cover the side of the pineapple. Serve cold.