Boy Scouts in Poland = Patriotism, honesty, and self-sacrifice

I was curious about a DW sentence in a report on Andrzej Duda. It read. "There (in Poland) the term 'boy scout' is associated with a mythical grandeur, and not just in the country's conservative circles. It's synonymous with characteristics such as patriotism, honesty, and self-sacrifice."

It made it sound like Boy Scouts were only a Polish organisation, it is world-wide. Isnt' that what scouts everywhere are all about? Patriotism, honesty, and self-sacrifice, doing good deeds, aquiring woodland survival skills, being resourceful, serving God and Country, helping little old ladies cross busy streets. I was in Scouts so i've had hands-on experience.

It's world wide, however each national group has its own characteristics. The Polish one is actually quite interesting.

Yes that was the original idea. Sadly the profile of the boy scout is changing somewhat. For one thing it's quite an expensive hobby in Poland. Many working class kids can't afford to join because the uniform, money for trips, camping gear etc are beyond their parents' budget. In Ireland I actually saw girl scouts in uniform throwing litter in a park. As a teacher, I couldn't ignore it, walked up to them and said 'So that's what they teach you now in scouts girls, is it?' They picked up the litter.

Scouting was started by a British man who established it as a paramilitary preparation for boys with the idea they would move from scouting to the military . The concept was taken over in other countries ,,, in Germany the wandervogel concept was taken over by the Hitler Youth and in the Soviet bloc by the Young Pioneers . It is much less political now .

Very much so. Especially aimed at boys who didn't have access to a cadet corps at school. The Boys' Brigade (a slightly more religious version) used to be even more army focussed.

One interesting fact about the Scouts and Poland is that there have been Polish-language scout troops in the UK for many years, usually attached to Polish parishes (scout troops in Britain used to be always attached to a church) and intended to maintain cultural links with Poland, whilst remaining part of the UK scouting movement. Sadly, when some English-speaking residents round the Trojmiasto wanted the same, the Polish scouting association (rather small-mindedly to say the least) refused.

i've got no stats and don't feel like googling but I presume membership has declined in most places . Anything that is decent, wholesome, honourable and based on dedicaton and sacrifice stands little chance in today's increasingly decadent, hedonistic and egoistic world.

The various well-publicised scandals (usually involving church people) combined with there being far more to actually do these days that is within reach of ordinary people has driven some well deserved nails in scouting's coffin, however it is still popular, as is its alternative The Woodcraft Folk which would actually be a very good thing in Poland.

" Anything that is decent, wholesome, honourable and based on dedicaton and sacrifice stands little chance in today's increasingly decadent, hedonistic and egoistic world."

to be honest a lot of parents are not really into sending their children out of an evening in a quasi military uniform to be shouted out by a bunch of weirdos....

too many soout leaders are oddballs, and that is putting it nicely.
if protecting our children from perverts is decadent and hedonistic.....bring it on, sister.

Anything that is decent, wholesome, honourable and based on dedicaton and sacrifice stands little chance in today's increasingly decadent, hedonistic and egoistic world.

You missed the point entirely . The reason for scouting was an introduction to a militaristic society .

Were you ever a scout? I belonned to the BSA and there was nothing militaristic about it except the uniforms. Our troop was attached to a Catholic parish and field masses were celebrated at scout camp.

Besides the woodland survival skills (cooking over a campfire,building latrines and observation towers, etc.), it was all about clean living: no alcohol, fags or swearing.

We live in a foul-mouthed substance-obsessed era so I was wondering how those pledges were holding up amid adversity.

Hahahaa, brilliant :D


you forgot rampant pedophilia .

" it was all about clean living: no alcohol, fags or swearing. "

ha ha ha - you forgot about the opportunistic paedo scout leaders who were v v keen to take the boys camping, away from their pesky parents.

oh thanks smurf!

Were you one of them? Scout or scoutmaster?