No. 30. 0 0 T O B I H 1 9 5 5.C O N T E N T S .Bands and B o y s ......................How to tr e a t d o g s ................

TRANSVAAL NEWS SHEET

No. 30 OCTOBER, 1955

BANDS AND BOYS' ....... %

Although music has a very important place in Scouting,I doubt the value of over-emphasizing the importance of bands. There seems a tendency to spend too much time marching, if a band is available. Scouting has much more to offer than "square bashing". Smartness in public is very important and requires training, but this should not be overdone. Our job is not to make boys into bandsmen but to make Scouts into MEN.

D.C. Spry in "World Scouting", Jul. 1955.

CALLING ALl 's c OUTERS

B-P on "HOW TO GIVE ORDERS"

1. You must know exactly what you want done as a first step. Think out carefully the steps to it and the possible mistakes that might arise in its execution.

2. Then put your instructions into short and simply- worded orders which can be understood by the least intelligent boy.

3. And don't forget - for this is an important point which is generally forgotten - to tell the reasons for your instructions.

4. Add a smile, for a cheery commander gets willing obedience.

5. Give responsibility to the Patrol Leaders or individual Scouts concerned. Expect them to carry out their orders, and whatever you do, don't start doing the work yourself.V Sit back and let them do it - otherwise you will always have them leaning on you to help them.

1911.

Prom "Jamboree", December, 1954.

NORTHERN RHODESIA

Philip Parwell, at Lundazi, N. Rhodesia, is District Scout Commissioner. Lundazi District is 11,000 sq. miles in size, with 93,000 African inhabitants. Last July he and a Dutch White Father ran a camp for the P.L.s of the district. Below is his account of the camp:

"This was the first joint camp of its kind held in Lundazi for many years, and it took place from 10th to 14th July by the side of the Lumezi River, twenty miles south of the Boma. Lumezi White Fathers Mission was half a mile away and the camp owed a great u 'al to Father Rykers of that Mission, who was not only Dej^ity Camp Leader of the camp but made many things available for us from the Mission School and allowed the boys to sleep at the school the night before and the night after the camp. Father Rykers was a Scout and a Scouter himself in Holland.

The camp was in a pleasant shady spot with the open Lumezi Dambo in front of us and the woodland behind.Sixteen Scouts from the Troops at Chasefu, Lumezi,Mukonba, Mwase, Lundazi and Mpimba attended the camp and were divided into four Patrols. Four Scoutmasters also attended as observers and helped in many ways.They set a very good example from the very first day by being the first to take off their shirts and quickly get down to the important business of preparing their shelter. The daily activities were arranged by myself as Camp Leader and by Father Rykers.

The aim of the camp was to show what fun Scouting can be, while at the same time helping the boys of this country to develop all sides of their character. So often Scouting, as I see Troops practising it, seems so unimaginative, weary and repetitive that I wonder why boys become Scouts. All the boys played their part in making our camp a happy, willing one, "right from the start, and the remarks that we heard about wishing that the camp could go on longer showed that we largely succeeded in our aims.

One afternoon we had a wide game, played over about half a square mile of ground, when one Patrol, backed by two Scouters, had to locate and remove a secret parcel held by the other three Patrols, backed by two Scouters.On the first attempt, all the attackers were wounded and had to get new lives, but on the second attempt one Scout succeeded in getting the parcel while his friends decoyed the defenders in the wrong direction. The parcel contained oranges which everyone was very ready to eat at the end of the game.

One night we had a night game, played after dark in the bu6h. One of our Patrol Leaders was kidnapped and had to be found. Luckily there was moonlight, but even so some of the Scouts were not very brave about finding him, especially when they found one of the kidnappers (he turned out to be Scouter Reuben Ziwa in disguise) armed with a shot-gun. The name of the kidnapped P.L. was Pascale, and when we noticed he was missing we all together started to shout for him, like this; 'One-two- three - Pas-ca-LEEEI 1 And now I think the camp will always be known as the '1, 2, 3, Pascale Camp'.

The Patrols competed all the time in a bead competition. Individual Scouts or whole Patrols could at any time win beads for their Patrols for doing things well, or lose them for doing them badly. The Patrol with_the most beads at inspection as a result of the previous day's activities won a Scout Badge which they could keep^outside their shelter until another Patrol took it off them. Three Patrols won the Badge over the four days.

Other things we did included lighting fires without matches, treating casualties properly with stuff from the First Aid Box, using a real compass to walk on a given compass direction through the bush, tracking and noiseless stalking. We had two camp fires, when the Camp Leader seemed to amuse the Scouts when he taught them 'Old Kachulu had a Farm' with all its animal noises."

From "World Scouting", June, 1955.

HOW TO TREAT DOGS

A dog's requirements are very few. He needss (l)A comfortable, dry kennel with a bed of clean straw if he is to live out of doors; (2 ) two meals a day and clean water in a suitable bowl or trough; (3 ) exercise at least twice a day; (4 ) daily grooming and a bath when necessary; (5) human companionship. A dog should not be shut away for long periods from the society of human beings; a dog so treated is always an unhappy dog.

The Kennel

The kennel should be weatherproof and placed in a dry and sunny spot. The kennel mouth should be placed, when possible, north-east in the winter and south-west in the summer. The kennel should be raised from the ground and, if possible, it should stand on concrete, indeed the whole of the dog's run should be of concrete, so that it can be easily kept clean. During the hot summer months some shade will be essential.

Feeding

An adult dog requires two meals a day - a light breakfast in the morning and one good meal later in the day, given at the same time every day. The breakfast can consist of a little dry biscuit - one large biscuit for a dog the size of an airedale terrier will be ample. The act of chewing dry biscuits keeps the dog's teeth and his digestion in good order. The dog's principal meal may be of meat (which should not be cut up in very small pieces) mixed with broken biscuits or hound-meal moistened with gravy or warm water. Stale brown bread can be used at times in place of the biscuit and hound-meal, and occasionally fresh boiled fish can be substituted for the meal for a change. Onions and leeks cooked with the other food are good for a dog. Boiled liver once or twice a week is good for most dogs, and at times dogs appreciate a meal of raw meat. A large bone is very useful, especially for puppies, as it gives them plenty of work, keeps them out of playful mischief, and helps to strengthen their teeth. Care should be taken not to let the dog have any small bones which he can break- up and swallow. Puppies, when taken from their mother, must be gradually accustomed to solid food. Firstly, soaked biscuits and then, as they grow, more solid food should be given. Oatmeal porridge is good if they will take it. A little chopped raw meat may be one of the puppy's daily meals when he is about two months old. By degrees the puppy can go on to a diet similar to that of an adult dog.

Grooming

A good brushing every day will keep a dog's coat in good order; combing is also necessary for a dog with long hair.

Exercise

Although regular exercise, and plenty of it, is absolutely necessary for a dog, it is very wrong to let him .run a long distance or make him jump directly after a meal. A dog should never "be allowed to run out on to a road by himself; accidents happen every day to dogs that are left to stray on roads along which motor cars are continually passing. A dog should always be led in busy streets and he should be led carefully - not dragged about. Make sure the dog's collar is not too tight.(You should be able to insert two fingers under the collar.) The amount of exercise needed by a dog to keep him in good health varies according to the breed,A little toy-dog, for instance, does not require as much exercise as an active terrier.

To Destroy Dogs

An owner should never attempt to destroy his dog. This is a matter requiring skill and care if suffering is to be avoided.

S.P.O.A. Pamphlet Prom "Transvaal Scouter®1,

August, 1955.

CORRESPONDENCE

The Editor,Transvaal News Sheet.

Sir,

NUMBER OP BOYS IN A TROOP

In the August issue of this Magazine, Scoutmaster P. Dikeledi wrote against limiting the number of boys in a Scout Troop. He thinks that if such a thing is done some very valuable future Scoutmaster may be thrown away. We say 32 is the limit. He sayss "Nol As many boys as care to join should be admitted".

Mr. Dikeledi wants to know what to do with 4 extra boys in a Troop that consists of 36 Scouts. Purther, he is against the practice of following Rules and Regulations. He does not want them.

I suppose some people are expecting me to tell Dikeledi a thing or two in my reply. But I am not going to do that. I am not a dictator and I do not think dictatorship is a good thing. I think that people should be allowed to express their views. One should never think that he is the know-all in this world.Nearly all questions have two sides if not more. Autocracy, suppression of other people's opinions and bottling up their feelings is a sign of weakness, of fear and of self-aggrandizement. Let us not follow that kind of path in this question.

I admit, some people do not know how to express clearly what they want to say, but a well-balanced man will always exercise patience in dealing with a difficult situation.

This is a difficult; situation, and I hope the Editor will allow other people to suggest better methods of dealing with large numbers in a Scout Troop. Mr. Dikeledi is one of the many who think that there should be no limit to the number of boys in a Troop.

Scouting suffers from lack of Scoutmasters, and this shortage is increasing as years go by. Our Scout­masters are mainly drawn from the rank of teachers. There is a scramble for degree courses at present and, besides, there are many other activities in the schools that want the attention of that same teacher. Boys flock in whenever there is anything new that is being introduced. Our Troops have excessive numbers of boys. Poor knowledge is another tactor. Progress is very slow in our Troops. Very few boys reach First Class stage.

Why should we take up Scouting at all if we do not “ lp ihem °°ys t0 progress and to reach, at least, First Class. Ihere^is a great deal of marking time in this Division and time has now come when such a thing must stop. One of the remedies is the limiting of numbers to 32 per iroop. Large numbers are cumbersome.

If a school has all its boys wishing to join in as bcouts the Scoutmaster should divide them into A B C

froifPs like this: 7th Orlando A, 7th Orlando’s /[th Orlando C, and so on. Each group should have not more than 32 boys.and each should work independently of tne others, Each should have its own Scoutmaster and each should manage its own affairs, but all should use the same scarf and, if possible, have one Group Scoutmaster,

Of course, such large numbers do not last. After a time all these groups will disappear, or perhaps only one will remain. Boys do not hold tenaciously on to a thing, ihey soon lose interest. That is why we advise starting small. Start with only 4 boys whom you are going to use as Patrol Leaders. Admit the first comers and, at 32 close the door. If you are alone, stop here. Never take more. What about the A.B.C. troops?" you will ask. Well discuss the matter with the head teacher. If he is keen ' he will find officers from the members of his staff0 otherwise refuse entrance to the rest. Let the keen ones be on the waiting list. Very soon a vacancy will occur, joys cannot stick long; some will go and your new ones will get the chance.

If, in a school, there are only 36 boys who want scouting, and if the Scoutmaster is alone, and if he can only give two hours a week to scouting, as Mr. Dikeledi says, and if these four extra boys come to parades every day only to look hungrily on like small puppies that • wish for the xood that their master is busy devouring I would not discourage them. Some very good Patrol * Leaders would take them in and allow them to participate in the activities of the patrol or even to replace those members ox the patrol that play truant. Such a situation is bound to arise - it is not every day that all members of your Troop come to parades. I suggest that you discuss the matter with your patrol leaders at your Court of Honour meeting. These four could be on your waiting list

as reserves and, if your Patrol Leaders are First Class Scouts, there will "be no difficulty. Perhaps I have been too rigid in my last article; although I am not relaxing I wish to advise that 32 is the limit, but, if you have a small overflow or a small number less, you cannot stop scouting. I do not know what the others would suggest but I think you should carry on.

I do not agree with Dikeledi, who thinks that we should not observe Rules. Rules are meant to keep order.A Society that has no rules ends in disorder. These regulations and rules in Scouting are a result of experience. The Pounder himself writes:

"So far as my own experience goes, I cannot train individually more than 16 boys - but allowing for my having only half the capacity of the experienced boy worker, the Scoutmaster, ± allow for his taking on 32.

"Men talk of having fine Troops of 60 boys or even 100 - and their officers tell me that theirboys are equally trained as in a small Troop .....I don't believe them.

"You can instruct any number of boys, a thousand at a time if you have a loud voice and attractive methods of disciplinary means. But that is not training - it is not education. Education is the thing that counts in building character and in making men.

f

"It is not the slightest use to preach the Scout Laws or to give them out as orders to a crowd of boys; each mind requires its special exposition of them and the ambition to carry them out."

I suppose the Chief said these words because there were officers, like Mr. Dikeledi, who thought that limiting the number of boys in a Troop was not right.

Don't you think we should benefit from the experience of those that have been in this game for quite a number of years?

D.C. Marivate Senior D.C.C,

- 7 - i

HEADQUARTERS NOTICES

Dear Scouters,

How about your programme for the year 1956? Have you started on it for at least the two opening months of January and February?

us suppose that Headquarters were to ask all oilicers for a week-by-week programme for the year 1956. ow many of our officers could produce such a programme?

Now then, Brethren, it is at this stage that every- + 0U Sil0u^ know more or less your programme with

(1) Dates of your Courts of Honour

(2) Parade Days

(3) Re-opening of Schools, 1956.

Our motto is "Be Prepared", so let us start our preparations now by getting our day-to-day diaries from our Little shop, and that will save us from all troubles.

Diaries for 1956

Wolf Cub, new this year 3 /6

Cloth bound, without pencil 3 /6

Cloth bound, with pencil 4/3

Refill for leather cover 2 /6

COMING EVENTS

The Headquarters Council of the African Boy Scouts Uransvaal Division) is calling a Conference for scoutmasters and Cubmasters, to be held this year at the Anglican Mission, 179, Proes Street, Pretoria, styled "Pretoria Conference", on Saturday, 29th October.1955, at 10.30 a.m. ’

Every officer is requested to make every effort to attend this Conference.

k

I

Collection Number: AD1715

SOUTH AFRICAN INSTITUTE OF RACE RELATIONS (SAIRR), 1892-1974

PUBLISHER: Collection Funder:- Atlantic Philanthropies Foundation

Publisher:- Historical Papers Research Archive

Location:- Johannesburg

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