International Boy Scout Day (05/01)

January 5 is International Boy Scout Day.

For many representatives of the older and middle generation of Russians, the word «scout» (English scout) has long been associated with the youth movement, which was part of the culture of the Western world, the analogue of which in Russia was the pioneer movement. This idea is both true and not.

The fact is that the Scout movement, which actually appeared in the West, became widespread in Russia, albeit in the pre-revolutionary period. Later it was banned, and it was replaced as one of the elements of youth policy by a pioneer organization. Its main difference from the scout movement was the political component, around which the principles of the pioneer were built.

Later transformed into the World Youth Scout Movement, Scouting began in the early 20th century in Great Britain. Major General Robert Baden-Powell (1857-1941) is considered its founding father. This historical figure was very famous in England at the beginning of the last century and popular among young people.

The fact is that he became famous during the Boer War, being the commandant of one of the fortresses in South Africa. It was there, with about a thousand soldiers under arms, that he put into practice the idea of forming an auxiliary unit of local boys, who were used as scouts, observers, and messengers. All this contributed to the fact that, with repeated superiority of the enemy in forces, the fortress was held until reinforcements arrived.

Returning to his homeland, Baden-Powell wrote the book «Intelligence for Boys», in which he outlined the principles of educational work with boys in order to prepare them for survival in nature in various conditions, persistent endurance of difficulties, and education of strong-willed qualities. The book was published in 1908, but a year earlier, in 1907, Baden-Powell founded the Scout Movement in Great Britain.

The word «scout» translated from English means «scout». By the end of the first year of its existence, the number of members of scouting detachments was about 60 thousand people. Initially, membership in the organization with a clear structure was considered as initial military training for boys, but soon went beyond this and became much broader. A little later, the scouting movement for girls appeared.

Very soon the Scout movement became popular outside the UK and gained international status. By the early 1920s, scouting organizations already existed in more than 60 countries around the world. In Russia, the first scout troops appeared in 1909, thanks to the initiative of Colonel N.I. Pantyukhova. However, the already large organization, which consisted of over 45 thousand members, by the time the Bolsheviks came to power as a result of the October Revolution, found itself in disgrace. In 1924 it was banned. Its founder, like most members and organizers, were forced to leave their homeland, continuing their activities in exile.

Established to replace the Scout Pioneer Organization, it partially borrowed from its predecessor the symbolism of the – tie, individual elements of form, principles and mottos. Unlike Scouting, however, the Pioneer Organization was a state movement politicized, rejecting religious freedom. And the symbolism in these two youth movements is explained differently.

The return of the scout movement to Russia occurred in 1990. The era of political change also affected the youth movement. Based on the experience of foreign scout organizations, Russia had its first scout troops. The largest of them were two associations: the National Organization of Russian Scout Scouts and the Organization of Russian Young Scouts. In 2004, the All-Russian Scout Association was formed.

The voluntary principles of the Scout movement attract many teenagers. In addition to a healthy lifestyle, they learn to work in a team, gain individual work skills, improve their strong-willed qualities, and have the opportunity to constantly improve their skills. In addition, constant communication with peers, friends, joint work and play, informal pedagogical methods of working for adults in the organization contribute to the development of communication abilities of adolescents, lay the foundations for successful personal growth, self-confidence and in one’s comrades. It’s not for nothing that the main motto of the Scouts (and the pioneers, by the way, too) was and remains the call: «Be ready!», and the main emblem of the Scout movement is the three-petalled lily, where the petals mean the Scout’s Duty: «Before yourself, before your neighbors, before God!».

1894