If asked to describe Scouting with one word, a couple of the
top words would be fun (always the number one word about Scouting) and learning.
I have another that is of equal importance, and yet you may not find it on the
list at all. That word is think. One of the top goals of Scouting is to help
young people to think for themselves. Scouting teaches problem-solving and how
to think quickly in an emergency. Scouts are taught how to be of service to
others and to be ready for anything.
The main goal is to help every Scout to learn how to think
for themselves. The famous anthropologist Margaret Mead said, “Children must be
taught how to think, not what to think.” Here is the challenge that our young
people face today. Media, social and news, along with movies, TV video games,
and YouTube, and even our schools are all geared to teach our young people what
to think, not how to think.
“The secret of
sound education is to get each pupil to learn for himself, instead of
instructing
him by driving knowledge into him on a
stereotyped system.”
Sir Robert Baden-Powell
1857-1941
Founder of The Boy Scouts
This can be seen in their lack of understanding of history—the
absents of any teaching in basic civics or the function of government. I think
you do not have to look very hard to see that the young people of today are in
a thinking crisis. There is a reason for this. It is straightforward. People
who do not think are easy to control. Now before you go off and accuse me of
some conspiracies nonsense, may I ask you to take an honest look at what you
young people are learning – or not learning – and go from there.
The ability to think for ourselves, to make up our minds
about life, is the most powerful tool we have as humans. Please do not assume
that your young people will pick this up on their own; they won’t. Could you
help them to think? Give them good and honest information and then allow them
to make up their mind on what they choose to believe. They may get things wrong
at first, but as they grow, so will their choices and decisions. Do not leave
their education to others. It is our responsibility to help our young learn,
grow, and become great thinkers.
Scouting Out of Uniform is a personal blog based on the
lessons learned from Scouting that relate to personal development and success
principles and is not an official site of The Boy Scouts of America. John
Patrick Hickey does not represent or speak for the Scouting program; however,
he does completely support and encourages Scouting for both young and old. John
Patrick Hickey is an author, speaker, Personal Development Coach, and proud Scouter. To read more from John
Patrick Hickey or to get his books, training and book him to speak to your
church, business, or group, visit our website at www.johnpatrickhickey.com. ©
2020 John Patrick Hickey
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