[RR] The Patrol Method -- Training Patrols in Boy Leadership

[Duane Wheeler]

http://www.whitestag.org/patrol_method/
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Title: The Patrol Method -- Training Patrols in Boy Leadership

Leadership Development Junior Leader Training Teaching Competencies of Leadership The White Stag JLT Newsletter Vol. 1, No. 2 The Holy Grail of Scouting— Creating The Patrol Method The Patrol Method The Patrol Method (By Bill Hillcourt) Patrol Method Survey Creating The Patrol Method CHAT 11: The Patrol Method CHAT 14--The Working of the Patrol Method—Patrol Work CHAT 14--The Working of the Patrol Method—Troop Work Unit of Training for Patrols In Action Unit of Training for the Senior Patrol Leader Unit of Training for Working Through Boy Leaders >>JLT BOARD << Have an opinion or an idea to share? Add your comments on the JLT Bulletin Board. What is the Patrol Method? Baden-Powell described it most succinctly. In 1888, BP wrote, The formation of the boys into Patrols of from six to eight and training them as separate units each under its own responsible leader is the key to a good Troop. [1] Survey results thus far -click for detail- But it's not enough to just put boys into a group and give 'em a name. If they are patrols in name only, your program will fail. What then, is this magical thing, this Holy Grail, called the Patrol Method? How do you know if your troop has it? Perhaps the surest diagnosis of it's absence is what you find in troops without it. If more than a couple of the acharacteristics below are missing in your unit, watch out. You may be headed for trouble. Enthusiasm is Contageous In patrols that are working, you see enthusiasm among the boys—and adults. If boys are enthusiastic, they care which patrol they belong to. (Just try to switch them to another patrol!) They have patrol yells. Meetings start on time. Tardiness at meetings is minimal. Campouts occur regularly. Camping participation is high. Uniforming is consistent and neat. There is pride in belonging. Advancement is consistent and high. There is competition between patrols. This article was excerpted and adapted in part from the leadership sourcebooks, "Follow the White Stag" and "Resources for Leadership" which contain over over 100 pages about the patrol method and developing patrol spirit. Thanks also to Lew Gardner his research and contributions. Organization Boy attendance is spotty or inconsistent. Troop and patrol meetings are irregularly held. Meetings sometimes consist of extended periods of games interspersed with something resembling a troop meeting. There's no corps of boys in charge, but perhaps a single Senior Patrol Leader backed up by the Scoutmaster. The Scoutmaster is frequently seen to issue instruction to the boys collectively, or is called on to discipline individuals who are out of line. Patrols are organized haphazardly, by age group, or without consideration to a mix of senior and junior Scouts. Training The older boys are inadequately prepared to train the younger boys. The older boys have not attended any district or council JLT training. The Scoutmaster has not attended adult leader training or Wood Badge. The ONLY Method Now that we know what the Patrol Method is not, we need to know what is it. As one writer put it, "The Patrol Method is not ONE method in which Scouting can be carried on. It is the ONLY method!" (Roland Phillips) . In summ, it's the Scoutmaster acting as a guide and counselor to the boys, helping the boys by word and example to lead one another, to influence one another, to encourage competition and excitement so that the boys grow as a group and as individuals. Baden-Powell wrote, The Patrol is the unit of Scouting always, whether for work or for play, for discipline or for duty. An invaluable step in character training is to put responsibility on to the individual. This is immediately gained in appointing a Patrol Leader to responsible command of his Patrol. It is up to him to take hold of and to develop the qualities of each boy in his Patrol. It sounds a big order, but in practice it works. Then, through emulation and competition between Patrols, you produce a Patrol spirit which is eminently satisfactory, since it raises the tone among the boys and develops a higher standard of efficiency all round. Each boy in the Patrol realises that he is in himself a responsible unit and that the honour of his group depends in some degree on his own ability in playing the game.[2] When you come right down to it, Patrol Spirit and the Patrol Method are joined at the hip. The Patrol Method does not work without the invigorating tonic of Patrol Spirit. As BP points out, the way to create patrol spirit is through "emulation and competition." The Scoutmaster's most important job is to create an environment that fosters boys' natural desire to compete and in the process, better themselves. Green Bar Bill, the Scout's Scout of the 20th century, wrote extensively about the Patrol Method. For his writings and more, see the articles linked above. [1] Baden-Powell, Robert. A Guide to Scoutmastership. A Guidebook for Scoutmasters on the Theory of Scout Training. 1888. The complete text of this book can be found on the  PineTreeWeb. Also found in selections from The Scouter, edited by Lord Somers, Baden-Powell's Outlook. London: C. Arthur Pearson Ltd., 1941. [2] ibid. CREDITS  Lew Gardner, born in 1910 in Oakland, California, is the youngest recipient ever of the Silver Beaver, having been recognized with this award at age 28. He has been Editor of the popular high-adventure newsletter Boots and Blisters for many years. He has served in a wide variety of Scout roles, including Scoutmaster, District Commissioner, Training Chairman, and RoundTable Chairman, among many others. He remains active in Scouting today in the Tri-Valley District of the San Francisco Bay Area Council. He is still called on regularly to lead sessions of adult leader training in the San Francisco Bay Area Council. Copyright © 1998—2000. All Rights Reserved. White Stag Leadership Development. Designed by TechPros ipt" LANGUAGE="JavaScript">var site="sm4whitestag"