Organizing the Boy Scouts 165 



THE BOY-SCOUT MOVEMENT 



There is much to commend the boy-scout move- 

 ment as a country organization. It must be thought 

 of as an educative institution. In discussing its 

 best meanings and possibilities, Professor E. L. 

 Holton, of the Kansas State Agricultural College, 

 says: "Education as used here means habits of 

 health, of work, of thrift, of observation, and of re- 

 search. It is habit that determines the health of 

 an individual and the sanitary conditions of a 

 community; the social and moral level of the 

 worker and the quality of his work; the returns 

 from the farm and the ideals of the farmer ; a man's 

 bank account and his insight into the secrets of his 

 environment. Habit has its physical basis in the 

 flesh, the blood, and the nerve cells. There must 

 be actual first-hand experience and leadership 

 hitched up with text-book knowledge in educating 

 the boy. The old elemental instincts of adventure, 

 pugnacity, gang life, and following leadership must 

 be taken into account and made to work out into 

 life-compelling desires." 



Before attempting the organization of the local 

 Boy Scouts, one is advised first to send to the national 

 organization and that of the state, if there be any, for 

 literature and directions. The only caution which 

 it seems necessary to give here is that there be con- 

 nected with the conduct of the organization some 



