Law & Promise
Mary Nugent
Programme Developers Summit
5 – 9th May 2010, Jambville, France
Objectives
After this session it is expected that participants will:
• Review the 7 Elements of the Scout Method.
• Understand the principles of the Law & Promise
• have reflected on ‘rules of play’ and how they affect and
young people’s personal involvement in the Law & Promise.
• have explored the impact of the Scout Law on elements of
the Programme
• have examined the implications of the Scout Promise in the
programmes of the different age sections.
Youth Programme
Why
What
How
The System of Scouting
The Scout Method is also described as a system.
This implies that it has to be conceived as an
interdependent group of elements forming a unified and
integrated whole. That is why the word “Method” is used in
the singular, not in the plural.
The Constitution of the Scout Movement
Adherence 2.
All members of the Scout Movement are required to adhere to a
Scout Promise and Law reflecting, in language appropriate to
the culture and civilization of each National Scout Organization
and approved by the World Organization, the principles of:
Duty to God,
Duty to others and
Duty to self,
and inspired by the Promise and
Law originally conceived by the
Founder of the Scout Movement
in the following terms:
Law and Promise
The
1. A
2. A
3. A
Scout Law
Scout’s honour is to be trusted.
Scout is loyal.
Scout’s duty is to be useful and to help
others.
4. A Scout is a friend to all and a brother to
every other Scout.
5. A Scout is courteous.
6. A Scout is a friend to animals.
7. A Scout obeys orders of his parents, Patrol
Leader or Scoutmaster without
question.
8. A Scout smiles and whistles under all
difficulties.
9. A Scout is thrifty.
10. A Scout is clean in thought, word and deed.
The Scout Promise
On my honour I
promise that I will do
my best —
To do my duty to God
and the King (or to God
and my Country);
To help other people at
all times;
To obey the Scout Law.
Rules of Play and Stages of
Development
Observation of how children view and accept the rules of
play….. sheds some light on the development of the
concept of rules:
Until 2 or 3 they have no sense of rules at all….
From 5or 6 to 9 or 10 rules become sacrosanct, and are
unalterable.
At 7 or 8 they become better at cooperating in a group,
sharing responsibilities. They still learn by obeying and
following rules.
Rules of Play and Stages of
Development
At 10 or 11 children understand that rules can be negotiated,
and come from mutual consent
From 12 to 14 is a time for testing rules and pushing limits –
as they develop an acceptance of universal values.
From 15 to 17 More aware and accepting of the reasoning
behind, and the necessity for rules.
From 17 to 19 Ability to delay gratification, working to achieve
something in the long term.
Achieving the Mission
The mission of Scouting is to
contribute to the education of
young people, through a
value system based on
the Scout Promise and
Law, to help build a better
world where people are selffulfilled as individuals and play
a constructive role in society.
Values
• Values are beliefs that are acquired and held, consciously or
unconsciously, by each individual and that influence his or
her thinking or behaviour.
 Biases and prejudices are part of our value system.
 Biases are preferences, everyone has them.
 Prejudices are generalised judgements. Often the result of one
experience.
• Values play a role in determining our attitudes, actions and
the kind of person we are.
• Consciously knowing and accepting one’s values is
important to an individual.
• Scouting’s fundamental values are based on: Duty to God,
to others, and to self.
Personal Involvement in the Law
What Personal Values are encouraged in the
Scout Law?
•Exercise 1
•We have some pictures which we think
represent some of the values reflected in the
Scout Law.
•On your post-it write down some values you
think are encouraged by the law and stick
them on the picture. Write at least one for
each picture.
Living by Values
Protect Life
and Nature
Respect
for Work
Dignity
Principles of Scouting
The principles of Scouting, or values it stands for, are normally
summarized in three categories:
• “Duty to God” – a person’s relationship with the spiritual values
of life, the fundamental belief in a force above mankind.
• “Duty to others” – a person’s relationship with, and
responsibility within, society in the broadest sense of the term:
his or her family, local community, country and the world at large,
as well as respect for others and for the natural world.
• “Duty to self” – a person’s responsibility to develop his or her
own potential, to the best of that person’s ability.
Commitment to a Promise
• To do my best:
 To do my duty to God and King/Country
 To help others
 To keep the Scout Law
Understanding the commitment might include:
 Knowing what it means to commit to something
 Knowing the values of the Scout Law and Promise
 Being prepared to live by them
 Knowing that this may be difficult at times
Developing
Values for
Life
Commitment to a Promise
Exercise 2.
In groups of 3 discuss the following:
 How should we approach the idea of a Commitment to a Scout
Promise in each of the age section.
 What implications will this have in the Programme for that age
section.
 Report back under the following headings:
» Encouraging Values, Peer Pressure, attractive activities
Thank you for you attention