Want of space in the present book prevents me from going into the details of the dress, administration, and discipline of the Movement, but these can all be found in the Book of Rules, which can be obtained from Headquarters price 6d.
Discipline of the Movement
All these rules may appear rather alarming to an outsider, but please remember that they are “rules” as for cricket and not “regulations” as for police purposes. They are merely intended as indications for “playing the game,” and that is the only form of discipline that we ask for in the sisterhood. Their object is to ensure that their policy is adhered to under which our Charter of Incorporation was granted, and also to guarantee to parents that reliable officers are in charge of their girls to ensure fairness of standard in awards, and to secure efficient training by having efficient Scouters.
Method
Method.—Our method of training is to educate from within rather than to instruct from without; to offer games and activities which, while being attractive to the girl, will seriously educate her morally, mentally, and physically.
Our aim is to promote “not so much the acquisition of knowledge as the desire and capacity for acquiring knowledge.”
In other words, the Captain’s job is to enthuse the girl in the right direction. By acting on this principle she will save herself considerable trouble in reaching her goal and in producing smart, keen and capable girls.
It is the means by which the modern schoolmistress scores over her more old-fashioned sister, since she develops a girl to be efficient rather than scholarly, to have character rather than erudition—and that is what counts towards success in life nowadays.
By “efficiency” I don’t mean mere money-making skill, but a general intelligence and capability to live a free, prosperous and happy life.
To preach “don’t” is to incite the doing of wrong. Rather infuse the right spirit; as powder is to the shot, so is spirit to action.