WHAT REMEDY IS PROPOSED?

The aim of the Girl Scout Movement is to assist parents and school teachers by supplying the desirable environment and healthy activities outside the school. The first thing is to attract the girls by happy comradeship, neat uniform, games and competitions which will appeal to them. Then through these to develop in them the four points which I have mentioned as “essential.” But please don’t think that we want to make a school of it. My harping on the “training” may lead you to think so. We do not want to trespass on the school teacher’s ground nor to adopt school curricula or examination systems. Quite the contrary. The weak point of modern education is that though it recognises the value of more up-to-date subjects it has not yet broken away from old methods in presenting them to the child. Till it does so it will remain Instruction instead of Education. Our object in the Scouts is to supply healthy play and recreation: but play when organised need not be waste of time. In these days we cannot afford, nor is it fair on them, to let children waste time and then to launch them “half-baked” into the sea of life-troubles. The Scout training offers them ideals and activities which supplement, without tiring them, the teaching of the school.

Results and experience of five years shows that the scheme is successful in attracting girls of every class in every part of the world. It can be applied equally well in town or country and it helps rather than interferes with every form of religion. Where properly handled it gives remarkable and satisfactory results in the directions looked for.

WHAT IS THE ORGANISATION?

A.—NATIONAL COUNCIL

The National Council is the governing body of the Girl Scout organization. It is composed of delegates from Local Councils and of other elected members. It holds one meeting a year to elect officers and the members of the Executive Board, and to decide matters that concern the policy and welfare of the entire organization.

Duties

The duties of the National Council are to

Charter Local Councils, to commission officers, and register Scouts.

Manufacture and copyright the Badges.

Select uniforms and other equipment.

Determine the general policies and lay down the lines of Girl Scout training.

These functions are carried out by an Executive Board between the annual meetings of the National Council. The National Headquarters and a staff of workers are employed to execute the orders of the National Council.

A—National Council—Officers, Executive Board, Headquarters, Staff.

B—Federation or State Organization. Commissioner.

C—Local Council Officers, Local Director or Secretary.

D—Troops—Captains and Lieutenants.

E—Patrols—Patrol Leaders and Corporals.

F—Girl Scouts—Brownies—Citizens Scouts.

Officers

Executive Board

The Executive Board works through Committees, which act as advisers to the board in matters concerning Field, Standards, Uniforms, Business, Education, Editorial, Publicity, etc. Final action is in the hands of the Executive Board, which is responsible to the National Council.

National Headquarters

National Headquarters is divided into departments for the more efficient handling of the work. The head of the office staff is the National Director.

The Director is appointed by the Executive Board, and serves as the Secretary of the National Council, the Executive Board and the various committees thereof. Under the authority of the Executive Board she acts as the administrating officer of the Girl Scouts and has general direction of the administrative work.

Uniform. Khaki Norfolk suit.

Scout hat, gold and black hat cords (see Committee on Uniforms, Jan. 12, 1918).

Insignia. Four bands of half-inch black braid all around left cuff (see Committee on Standards, May 7, 1918).

National Field Captains are employed by the organization and assigned to work in the field.

Uniform. Khaki Norfolk suit.

Scout hat, gold and black hat cord (see Com. on Uniforms, Jan. 12, 1918).

Insignia. Three bands of half-inch black braid all around left cuff (see Com. on Standards, May 7, 1918).