[English] BOY SCOUTS OF SHANGHAI. Standardization Of Proficiency Badges.

BOY SCOUTS OF SHANGHAI.

Standardization Of Proficiency Badges.

For a long time past the need has been felt for a more general standardization of training between the respective troops of Boy Scouts in Shanghai, and it seems as if Colonel Bray's remarks on the occasion of the Scouts Rally at Ungaza last month were likely to produce some results in this direction in future. Whether or no an amalgamation of all forces under one central governing body either in London or Shanghai be desirable or even possible at the present juncture, at any rate, the long standing question of uniformity of proficiency badge training which has certainly been advocated by both the Shanghai and Baden Powell Scout Council seems likely to become at last a fait accompli.

The common basis for examination in the fifty odd proficiency badges open to the scout has always been taken from that excellent compendium of general knowledge "Boy Scout Tests and How to Pass Them!" This book gives minute instructions on every badge and subject within the scope of the Scout Training, but the problem which has arisen out of four years successful working of the Scout Movement in Shanghai is that while the Baden Powell London Headquarters admit the flexibility of their badge examination standards to suit particular environment and individual capacity of troops of different standing and experience, and the Baden Powell organization here has adhered close by to this standard as laid down, their brother organization in Shanghai, the Shanghai Boy Scouts, not coming within the jurisdiction of Headquarters in London, has felt itself free to follow its own dictates in the matter of making a badge examination harder or easier than that required by the B. P. Standard to suit its own peculiar requirements and taste.

A boy for instance in one troop is required to pass an examination for signalling Badge of twenty words a minute. The number of another troop, perhaps, is called upon to do only twenty-five letters a minute - yet the same Signaller's Badge is conferred on both. Similar anomalies characterize the awarding of other badges, and from a standpoint of fairness to all scouts irrespective of troop, one standard of examination is manifestly desirable.

The Chinese Scouts are confronted with the same difficulty, and a meeting was held last night to put the question on a satisfactory basis to all.

At a meeting held by the courtesy of the Shanghai Boy Scouts at their clubroom at Range Road, the following were present:

Chief Scoutmaster G. R. Welch, Shanghai Boy Scouts.

Asst. Scoutmaster J. S. Agassiz, Baden Powell Scouts.

Asst. Scoutmaster Macdonald, Baden Powell Scouts.

Scoutmaster E. Evans, Jun., 1st Shanghai Troop Chinese Scouts.

Scoutmaster J. C. Clarke, 2nd Shanghai Troop Chinese Scouts.

Asst. Scoutmaster A. H. Swann, 2nd Shanghai Troop Chinese Scouts.

Mr. Fei Chia-leu, Secretary, Chinese Boy Scouts Association.

An independent Board of Examiners was decided upon and it was agreed to invite certain specialists in any particular form of badge subjects to take an interest in the Movement and hold monthly examinations for which scouts of all troops would compete. Certain Badge subjects which could be of no practical use to scouts in Shanghai will be excluded and an attempt will be made to formulate a definite standard of requirements for each of the remaining badges agreeable to all parties. - N.C. Daily News.

Source:

1. Page 3, "Hongkong Telegraph", Thursday, 26th February, 3rd Year of the Republic of China

   • 2nd Day, 2nd Lunar Month, Jia-yin Year

   • Thursday, 26th February, 1914 Common Era