Law & Promise

1. Law & Promise Mary Nugent Programme Developers Summit 5 – 9th May 2010, Jambville, France

2. Objectives After this session it is expected that participants will: • Review the 7 Elements of the Scout Method. • Understand the principles of the Law & Promise • have reflected on ‘rules of play’ and how they affect and young people’s personal involvement in the Law & Promise. • have explored the impact of the Scout Law on elements of the Programme • have examined the implications of the Scout Promise in the programmes of the different age sections.

3. Youth Programme

4. The System of Scouting The Scout Method is also described as a system. This implies that it has to be conceived as an interdependent group of elements forming a unified and integrated whole. That is why the word “Method” is used in the singular, not in the plural.

6. The Constitution of the Scout Movement Adherence 2. All members of the Scout Movement are required to adhere to a Scout Promise and Law reflecting, in language appropriate to the culture and civilization of each National Scout Organization and approved by the World Organization, the principles of: Duty to God, Duty to others and Duty to self, and inspired by the Promise and Law originally conceived by the Founder of the Scout Movement in the following terms:

7. Law and Promise The Scout Law 1. A Scout’s honour is to be trusted. 2. A Scout is loyal. 3. A Scout’s duty is to be useful and to help others. 4. A Scout is a friend to all and a brother to every other Scout. 5. A Scout is courteous. 6. A Scout is a friend to animals. 7. A Scout obeys orders of his parents, Patrol Leader or Scoutmaster without question. 8. A Scout smiles and whistles under all difficulties. 9. A Scout is thrifty. 10. A Scout is clean in thought, word and deed. The Scout Promise On my honour I promise that I will do my best — To do my duty to God and the King (or to God and my Country); To help other people at all times; To obey the Scout Law.

10. Rules of Play and Stages of Development Observation of how children view and accept the rules of play….. sheds some light on the development of the concept of rules: Until 2 or 3 they have no sense of rules at all…. From 5or 6 to 9 or 10 rules become sacrosanct, and are unalterable. At 7 or 8 they become better at cooperating in a group, sharing responsibilities. They still learn by obeying and following rules.

11. Rules of Play and Stages of Development At 10 or 11 children understand that rules can be negotiated, and come from mutual consent From 12 to 14 is a time for testing rules and pushing limits – as they develop an acceptance of universal values. From 15 to 17 More aware and accepting of the reasoning behind, and the necessity for rules. From 17 to 19 Ability to delay gratification, working to achieve something in the long term.

12. Achieving the Mission The mission of Scouting is to contribute to the education of young people, through a value system based on the Scout Promise and Law, to help build a better world where people are self-fulfilled as individuals and play a constructive role in society.

13. Values • Values are beliefs that are acquired and held, consciously or unconsciously, by each individual and that influence his or her thinking or behaviour. • Biases and prejudices are part of our value system. • Biases are preferences, everyone has them. • Prejudices are generalised judgements. Often the result of one experience. • Values play a role in determining our attitudes, actions and the kind of person we are. • Consciously knowing and accepting one’s values is important to an individual. • Scouting’s fundamental values are based on: Duty to God, to others, and to self.

14. Personal Involvement in the Law What Personal Values are encouraged in the Scout Law? • Exercise 1 • We have some pictures which we think represent some of the values reflected in the Scout Law. • On your post-it write down some values you think are encouraged by the law and stick them on the picture. Write at least one for each picture.

15. Living by Values Respect for Work Protect Life and Nature Dignity Positive attitude to life’s ups and downs Solidarity Loyalty

16. Principles of Scouting The principles of Scouting, or values it stands for, are normally summarized in three categories: • “Duty to God”– a person’s relationship with the spiritual values of life, the fundamental belief in a force above mankind. • “Duty to others”– a person’s relationship with, and responsibility within, society in the broadest sense of the term: his or her family, local community, country and the world at large, as well as respect for others and for the natural world. • “Duty to self”– a person’s responsibility to develop his or her own potential, to the best of that person’s ability.

17. Commitment to a Promise • To do my best: • To do my duty to God and King/Country • To help others • To keep the Scout Law Understanding the commitment might include: • Knowing what it means to commit to something • Knowing the values of the Scout Law and Promise • Being prepared to live by them • Knowing that this may be difficult at times

18. Developing Values for Life

19. Commitment to a Promise Exercise 2. In groups of 3 discuss the following: • How should we approach the idea of a Commitment to a Scout Promise in each of the age section. • What implications will this have in the Programme for that age section. • Report back under the following headings: • Encouraging Values, Peer Pressure, attractive activities

20. Thank you for you attention