SCOUTING is not something by and for itself, but is a definite part of the life of the community. By playing its part and training its boys to play theirs, it contributes to our national welfare.

It is therefore of greatest importance that a mutual understanding and cooperation exist between the Troop and the factors that make up the community- the homes, the churches, the schools and other agencies.

Scouting And The Home

The aim and desire of the parents and the Scoutmaster are fundamentally the same: happiness, growth and manliness for the boy. Wouldn't their efforts, if pooled, more readily produce the result? Yes. And they can be pooled through the planning of a wise Scoutmaster and an active Troop Committee.

To get the cooperation of the Scout's parents, it is necessary that they know the purpose of Scouting and the way in which the Troop hopes to achieve it. Furthermore, they must be acquainted with the leader of their boy.

Obviously then, the thing to do is to call the parents together for a Parents' Meeting at which they may receive the information and be made to realize their part in the success of the Troop.

The Parents' Meeting

The best possible time to arouse the parents' interest is when the Troop first steps out in public: at its Installation Ceremony. If the most is made of this, (see suggestions in Chat 5), the parents' support will have been secured from the very start.

On the other hand, if a special meeting is to be called, it would be advisable to plan this when an event of special importance to the Troop is taking place, such as the Troop's anniversary, or a Troop Court of Honor at which a comparatively large number of boys will receive their advancement awards.

The promoting of attendance may be done by word of mouth invitation to the parents by their boys, followed by a personal letter signed by the Chairman of the Troop Committee and the Scoutmaster, followed by printed or mimeographed invitation tickets, distributed by the Scouts with the boys' own appeal: "You'll have to come. All the other fellows will have their parents there!"

Photo by F. Allan Morgan

Each is proud of the other. This Scout, an Assistant Patrol Leader, gives a Mother's Pin to his mother at a Parents' Meeting.

The Program of the Parents' Meeting

The program may be simple or elaborate, as the Troop desires and as its training permits.

1. Opening. The opening should catch the interest of the parents, put the boys and the guests at ease, and create an atmosphere that will aid the leader to carry on the rest of the program with assurance. The regular Troop meeting opening ceremony sometimes does this, or singing of an appropriate song led by a good song leader.

2. Introductions are necessary, but should be short. The Head of the Sponsoring Institution may come to the center of the floor, name the Troop Committeemen and ask them to come out and stand next to him. The Chairman presents the Scoutmaster and the Assistants. The Scoutmaster calls out his Junior Leaders and the Patrol Leaders. After they are in line, the Scouts fall in behind their respective Patrol Leaders. In this way the parents obtain a visual picture of how the Troop is made up, as well as a chance to know the men who are leading it.

3. Participation by the Troop. Most parents are present to see their own Johnny or Jimmy perform. Therefore, an opportunity for his performance should be given, either through a simple Scout play (see list in Literature Catalog), a couple of Patrol stunts, or a number of Scoutcraft demonstrations-first aid, fire by friction, etc.-occurring simultaneously. Make them short and snappy with plenty of action.

4. Songs are popular if carefully selected, properly accompanied and well led. Everyone likes to try singing. It gives your audience something to do, and sometimes is a pleasant rest. Provide mimeographed song sheets for this!

5. Presentations of Awards. The awards should be handed out as rapidly as possible, and applause should be restrained until the end. If there are only a few awards to be made, each Scout may come forward individually to receive his. If there are many awards, the Scouts should step forward in one group or in a few groups by subjects.

6. The Most Important Feature of the meeting is usually a speech by the Chairman of the Troop Committee or the Scoutmaster-or short speeches by both -describing the purpose of the gathering, outlining the immediate plans for the Troop and requesting the cooperation of the parents for the future of the Troop. The meeting should lead up to this feature, and should be terminated by it. Only songs and refreshments should be allowed to intervene between it and the formal closing.

7. Refreshments should not be too elaborate and it may be advisable to dispense with them altogether. If it is decided to have them, they should be handled by a special committee.

8. Formal Closing. Taps or the Troop's favorite camp fire song.

Whatever the program contains, make sure that it never lags. A varied program without pauses, where every item "clicks," cannot help but show the parents that their boy is in a Troop that knows how to work and work well.*

Parents' Auxiliary

If the Troop is ambitious, it may use the occasion right then and there to establish a Troop Parents' Auxiliary for the organized cooperation of the parents.

The plan should be presented during the Scoutmaster's or Troop Committeeman's talk, with the request that after the meeting the mothers gather in one corner of the room and the fathers in the other for the purpose of establishing the Mothers' Branch and the Fathers' Branch of the Auxiliary.

♦Adapted from Henry A. Meyer.

A prominent mother and father should have been asked in advance to take charge of these sessions and should have been provided with a simple agenda, with such items as (a) Formal action for starting the branch, (b) Election of Chairman, Vice-Chairman and Secretary, (c) Suggested list of items in which the group may cooperate, for discussion, (d) Questions and answers. It is recommended that members of the Troop Committee and the Scoutmaster "float" from group to group and aid in the proceedings.

It should be clearly understood, that such a Parents' Auxiliary does not in any way supersede the Troop Committee, that it will only meet when there is a definite reason for meeting, that its members will be willing to aid the Troop individually or together when such need is required and requested.

Some Scoutmasters have found that a Troop Auxiliary not limited to parents only, is helpful in gaining for the Troop an active support from many adults in the institution and neighborhood. A definite friendship for Scouts and Scouting should be a requisite for membership in such a Troop Auxiliary.

What Parents' Cooperation Means

The parents' cooperation will soon be felt in the Troop. They will be ready with permissions for their son to take part in whatever activities the Troop undertakes. They will encourage their boy's regular attendance, advancement and tenure. They will help him to live up to his Scout obligations.

This relationship will be of mutual benefit. The father and mother who share their son's interests are keeping young with him, and keeping alive that comradeship and confidence which was theirs in the earlier years before the "gang" urge set in.

Good Turns for the Sponsoring Institution and the home. Good Turns for everyone in the widening circle of helpfulness.