The up-to-date inspecting officer is not likely to be taken in by eye-wash. Her aim is to ascertain to what extent results have been attained by the Captain among the girls in each Patrol in her Troop in the four main branches of our training.
- Character and Intelligence.
- Skill and Handicraft.
- Service for Others.
- Physical Health and Health Knowledge.
She will generally take each Patrol separately, or if there is not time for this, one Patrol selected at random from each Troop.
She will then, by questioning the Patrol Leader and some of the Scouts, judge for herself to what extent the leader is capable of responsibility and leadership, and to what extent the girls are efficient, keen, and smart.
She can, by a few simple tests, soon see whether they have really earned their badges, and she can offer them simple personal advice which will sink in and be valued.
The Scout Spirit and Scout proficiency are to her the important points to look for.
Accurate drill, neat bandaging, quick and legible signalling, smart uniform, are excellent steps, but they are only steps among others towards the attainment of womanly efficiency on the part of the individual girl.
That is the aim of our training.
Happy, smiling face, ready resourcefulness and quick intelligence in carrying out any job that may be given is the evidence of keen esprit de corps in the Patrol, are by far the best indications to the inspecting officer as to whether or not true Scout training is practised by the Captain in her Troop.