THE SCOUT/GUIDE PROMISE
| “On my honour, I promise that I will do my best To do my duty to *God and my country, To help other people and To obey the Scout/Guide Law.” *The word ‘Dharma’, my be substituted for the word ‘God’ if so desired. |
Every member of the Movement makes the Promise voluntarily and this serves as a moral binding force. When young people freely choose to make a promise, it adds a strong sense of personal responsibility
At the time of investiture every Scout has to make a Promise
Notice the words B.P. included in the promise: “On my honour.” He considered one of the Scouters most important tasks was to develop a sense of honour in each individual. On it, B.P. said, “the whole of the Scout’s future behaviour and discipline hangs. You can develop this basic virtue by treating each Scout as a responsible person you can trust. When Scouts recognize this, they will reciprocate your trust
The Scouts have a wide range of abilities: some have more, some less. B.P. recognized this and built it deliberately and included into the Scout Promise. No matter how difficult the task, both you and the Scout would be satisfied if each could truthfully say, “I will do my best.
Duty to God is a fundamental obligation of every Scout. Whatever their faith, we expect and encourage Scouts to fulfil their religious duties
As the Scout grows older in Scouting, his interpretation of the promise will mature.
SCOUT/GUIDE LAW
| A Scout/Guide is Trustworthy.A Scout/Guide is loyalA Scout/Guide is a friend to all and a brother to every other Scout.A Scout/Guide is courteous.A Scout/Guide is a friend to animals and loves nature.A Scout/Guide is disciplined and helps protect public property.A Scout/Guide is courageous.A Scout/Guide is thrifty.A Scout/Guide is pure in thought, word and deed. |
1. A Scout is trustworthy.
A Scout tells the truth. He is honest, and he keeps his promises People can depend on him. It is easy to trust someone, even strangers: All trust that we have of strangers is forced, either by laws, contracts or some similar regulations. That is where Scout is different He is trustworthy not because he is forced to be that way, but because he chooses to be. His honour is the only regulation that enforces His trustworthiness. That is why the words. “On My Honour are so important to a Scout.
A trustworthy person arrives on time, commits to tasks he can handle, and completes both boring and difficult tasks on time. He is punctual, prompt, and perseverant. He realizes that fulfilling simple, basic commitments and expectations every day lays the foundation of trust that extends to more challenging situations. When others see that he completes tasks, they trust him with more and more responsibilities because he has earned that trust.
2. A Scout is loyal.
A Scout is true to his family, friends. Scout leaders, school, and nation. Loyalty means to be faithful. When we say a Scout is Loyal, it means he remains steadfast in his adherence to what is right. Being loyal is a character trait that can be often tested, and often misdirected. A loyal Scout will support and promote the plans of the Troop, even when they are not his favourite choice. Scouts need to be loyal to the laws of our country and the people that represent those laws. Whether or not a Scout agrees with the way a mayor governor, or president governs, He must demonstrate respect to that position. By being loyal to the Scout Law, and holding its points dear, a Scout is naturally loyal to those around him in a right and good manner. Blind loyalty is not loyalty at all, but loyalty founded on truth, compassion, and honour is truly loyal.
3. A Scout is a friend to all and a brothe to every other Scout.
A Scout offers his friendship to people of all races and nations, and respects them even if their beliefs and customs are different from his own. This states the bond of brotherhood/sisterhood and this is what makes Scouting such a close knit movement. Friendliness, openness and a ready smile must differentiate you as a Scout from other boys and girls.
4. A Scout is courteous.
Courtesy is polite behaviour that shows respect for other people. Basic etiquette and manners are of significant importance. You are expected always to try to be courteous to every other person irrespective of him being senior or Junior or equal to you. In our age of email, instant messaging, and online chats, courtesy becomes a more difficult behaviour to learn and practice.
Courtesy requires personal interaction where the value of the other person can be demonstrated After all, courtesy occurs out of respect for other people. We say Please and Thank you. All of these are ways in which we show that we respect the other person
All together, these are known as ‘etiquette’ – the proper way of behaving politely. Etiquette is how Scouts should manage their behaviour. True courtesy is done cheerfully and sincerely, Courtesy should begin at home where it may be the most difficult to demonstrate. Remembering to be polite to parents. brothers, and sisters can be a true challenge for a Scout, but one which he needs to overcome to become a person of strong character
5. A Scout is a friend to animals and loves nature.
It must be your endeavour to protect life. Many may like to keep pets such as birds, cats, dogs, etc. Such pets need as much care as a little brother or sister. Unless you are prepared to spare your time and care for them, it will be far better for you not to have pets. They need right kind of food, special attention for their cleanliness, appropriate exercise and medical care when they are ill.
6. A Scout is disciplined and helps protect public property.
This is one of the most difficult points of the Law which you are to observe, but as a disciplined Scout it should not be very difficult for you to follow it. Each one of us need to value the public property in whatever form they are. We need to protect them with utmost care from natural calamities, from those who dirty it and from those who try to destruct it or dirty it.
7. A Scout is courageous.
A Scout can face danger although he is afraid. He has the courage to stand for what he thinks is right even if others laugh at him or threaten him. Bravery is certainly not the lack of fear, but the strength to overcome that fear. Courage controls fear and allows a Scout to keep a cool head, rise above the danger, and act in a brave way. When fear controls the person. He loses his sense of honour and his gut instinct of self-preservation takes over, causing acts of cowardice. Making excuses and blaming others for mistakes rather than accepting the blame for actions and apologizing for mistakes are habits formed of fear. The Scout who is brave enough to accept consequences for his decisions is brave indeed.
8. A Scout is thrifty.
He saves for the future. He protects and conserves natural resources. He carefully uses time and property. A Scout should be given as many opportunities as possible to practice being thrifty within Scouting. Thriftiness is most often discussed in terms of money since we exchange work for money and money for those things we need and want.
But, a Scout should be thrifty in all areas of life. Turning off unused lights, closing doors and window shades, recycling, etc. Using things he has until they wear out or he outgrows them rather than wanting to be part of every fact that comes along is being thrifty with what he already has. Promoting conservation and natural environment restoration is being thrifty with nature. Using his time to accomplish goals rather than wasting it on idleness is being thrifty with his time on Earth.
9.A Scout is pure in thought, word and deed.
This law is the basis on which you stand and live the life of a Scout Decent Scouts look down upon silly youths who talk dirt, and they do not let themselves give way to temptation, either to talk it or to do anything dirty. A Scout is pure, and clean-minded. If a Scout is clean in thought, He will be clean in word and deed for the mind is the source of words and deeds.
Bharat Scouts & Guides PM Shri Kendriya Vidyalaya Gill Nagar Chennai 