There are two fundamental points to be considered in dealing with Scouts. The first is that the only woman who can hope for real success as a trainer of Scouts is the one who can be their elder sister. The “Commanding Officer” is no good and the “Schoolmistress” is doomed to failure (though in neither case probably would the woman recognise it herself nor admit it). This fact is being proved daily by the successful results already gained by our Captain. By the term “elder sister” I mean one who while commanding their respect can place herself on terms of comradeship with her girls, entering into their games and laughter, herself thereby winning their confidence and putting herself into that position which is essential for teaching, namely, where by her own example she leads them in the right direction instead of merely pointing the way.
The Psychology of the Girl
The second item to recognise, although as a point it is of first importance, is that the girl of eight to ten is psychologically quite different from the girl of ten to fifteen. I don’t mean that the change comes about with a bang in the tenth year; but the younger girl is growing relatively in mind and body more rapidly than the elder one, and the transition gradually comes about approximately at those ages in the average girl. The age at which crime begins among the poorer class of children points to the age at which character begins to form itself, and it appears much earlier in life than is usually supposed; that is to say, the crime returns show a good deal of juvenile depravity at the early age of ten and eleven, and at twelve it has mounted to its highest point in the young generation up to twenty. Between the ages of eight and nine, therefore, seem to be the right time to get hold of the girl when the seeds of character may begin to sprout into pliant tendrils ready to trail off in the wrong direction, but easily taken in hand at that time and trained aright.
Under eleven the following are common attributes in the average child: make-believe, appreciation of fairy tales, eagerness for new experiences, collection of stamps and other curios, mental restlessness, physical restlessness, thoughtlessness, untruthfulness, etc. Over eleven the following attributes may be generally counted on: constructiveness, hero-worship, liking for team games, dawning conscience, sense of humour, of pathos and of sympathy.
Character
In any case sense of honour, truth, self-control, fairness, discipline, responsibility and good humour have been too little inculcated among girls in the past, and this important omission we endeavour to make good in the practices and activities of the Scout work adapted to the psychology changes as they come.
The Patrol System for Scouts
I remember when we first started the Boy Scout and Girl Scout Movements in England, I received some valuable advice from a prominent business man with regard to organising the Headquarters Office.
He told me that women were far the best clerks to employ in preference to men, but he said the pity of it was that they only rose to a certain height in their work and they could not be made managers of departments because they could not take responsibility.
War conditions have since shown that if he meant this as a rule he was wrong. Women have risen splendidly to the occasion, and in very many cases have shown themselves perfectly qualified to take higher duties upon themselves.