The
Scout Movement is defined as a voluntary, non political, educational movement
for young people, open to everybody, without national, racial or religious
discriminations according to the Aim, the Principles
and Method which defined its Founder, as these are
mentioned below.
Aim
The Aim of the Scout Movement is to contribute
to the development of the youth in order to utilize their body, mental,
social and spiritual abilities as individuals, as responsible citizens
and as members of their local, national and international communities.
Fundamental
Principles
Scouting is based on three general principles,
which represent the fundamental laws and its beliefs. These are mentioned
as "Duty to God",
"Duty to others"
and "Duty to ourselves."
With the title "Duty to God", the first of the
previous mentioned principles is defined as "persistence to the mental
values, faith to the religion which expresses them and acceptance of the
responsibilities which originate from it."
"Duty to others" is defined as "dedication
to your country as well as propulsion of the local, national and international
peace, understanding and cooperation" and "participation to the
development of the society, with recognition of the human dignity and the
development of nature."
In the end "Duty to ourselves" is defined as
"responsibility for the development of the body", which means that
a human has to take up the responsibility for the development of his abilities.
Mean for the formulation of these principles
with an understandable and attractive way for young people is the
Scout Promise and Law, which all the Scout organizations
owe to have.
Method
The Scout Method is regarded as "a system
of a progressive personal education" with the help of:
- The factual application of the Scout Promise
and Law.
- The erudition as a result of the action.
- The participation in small groups which contain,
under the instruction of adults, progressive discovery and acceptance of
responsibility and education for self-government having as a goal the development
of the character and the acquirement of abilities, self-confidence, reliability
and possibilities in order a person to be able not only to cooperate but
also to lead.
- Progressive and attractive programs with different
activities, based on the interests of the participants, which contain games,
useful skills and offer to the society and are carried out mainly outdoors,
near the nature.
- The personal example of the Leader.
The elements of the Scout Method that have
been mentioned, compose an inseparable entity and form a complete method
only as an entity of interdependent and symmetric factors.
Sources
- For us, Greek, Scouting has a particular value
because as a main source has the Ancient Greek Civilization.
The "Ageli" (Pack) of Sparta, the "Efivia"
of Athens, "Likidis" and "Agelatis" of Crete, the whole organization
of youth at the Ancient Greece testify this.
The pedagogical principles of Socrates,
Aristotle, Plato for the finding of the Good,
the Beautiful and generally of the values is a bench of the Scouting Method
and the Fundamental Principles of Scouting.
- Christianity has an important
role in developing the fundamental principles of scouting and is one of
its main sources.
The Scout Law and Promise is full of the messages
of the Holy Writ and Duty to God is an important part of the Scout Promise.
- At last older and newer European Civilization
with philosophers like Rabelais,
Montaigne, Fenellon, Rousseau, Pestallossi, Montessori, Decroly, Ferriere
etc.
establish the Scout Method.
1. A Scout is truthful and keeps his word.
2. A Scout is worthy and trustful, obedient
and keeps the law.
3. A Scout is useful to his family and
the community.
4. A Scout is friendly and polite to all
and a brother to every Scout.
5. A Scout respects himself and others,
is careful of his words and actions.
6. A Scout loves nature and protects the
environment.
7. A Scout is cheerful and optimistic.
8. A Scout is thrifty and makes good use
of his time.
9. A Scout is industrious and progresses
using his skills.
10. A Scout is determined, brave and confident
and takes responsibility for his actions.