The big news today is that Girl Guides
Australia has changed the Promise and Law. Well, it’s not really big news to
those who are involved with Guides or Scouts.
As someone who has gone through Guides as a youth member, and is currently a Cub scout Leader within Scouting, I have followed the story with interest.
Every so often, both organizations, like
others, undergo reviews of their uniforms, badge work, and yes, their promise
and law, to ensure it is relevant, modern while still holding true the aims and
methods of what was envisioned when Scouting and guiding started way back in
1907. This essentially is to ensure that we are helping create young people
grow into the best possible adults that they can be.
There are those who are claiming the sky
is going to fall and the world is ending as we know it.
What people fail to understand is that
Scouting and Guiding evolve to adapt and embrace the changing world around us.
Sure, we still camp, and there is and
always will be, a emphasis on the outdoor activities for which both organizations are known and well regarded for.
What people have to realize is that
society changes. Therefore what scouting and guiding offer will also change.
The guiding that I had as a child in the
1980s was not the same guiding my mother and aunts has as guides in the 1950s
and 60s. Nor should it have been. The times were different. Just as the guiding
in 2012 is different again. The activities, the choices people make and how
people are living, even within Australia has changed.
Change is the one true constant in any
life.
How we, as people deal with this, is the
question. How we as leaders help the youth in our programs deal with change is
also important. We do not know what the world will look like in 20 years time.
But I can bet it will be different to how the world looks in 2012, just as the
world looked different in 1982.
So, my thoughts? Ultimately, the guides
are changing and updating, to respond and to continue to provide the best
possible programs that they can to the youth in their program. Which is, to
provide the youth with opportunities to become the best possible people that
that they can be.
Guide Promise as
at July 2012
The
Guide Promise
I
promise that I will do my best
To be true to myself and develop my beliefs
To
serve my community and Australia
And
live by the Guide Law
The
Guide Law
• Respect myself and others
•
Be considerate, honest and trustworthy
•
Be friendly to others
•
Make choices for a better world
•
Use my time and abilities wisely
•
Be thoughtful and optimistic
• Live with courage and strength
THE SCOUT
PROMISE – Current version July 2012
There are two versions of the Scout Promise. Individuals taking the Promise may choose from either of the following:
On my honour
I promise that I will do my best
To do my duty to my God, and
To Australia
To help other people, and
To live by the Scout Law
OR
On my honour
I promise that I will do my best
To do my duty to my God, and
To the Queen of Australia
To help other people, and
To live by the Scout Law
There are two versions of the Scout Promise. Individuals taking the Promise may choose from either of the following:
On my honour
I promise that I will do my best
To do my duty to my God, and
To Australia
To help other people, and
To live by the Scout Law
OR
On my honour
I promise that I will do my best
To do my duty to my God, and
To the Queen of Australia
To help other people, and
To live by the Scout Law
Links about the story
No comments:
Post a Comment