Zombori István (szerk.): Magyar cserkészet - Világcserkészet = Hungarian Scouting - World Scouting (Szeged, 1989)

NAGY László: A cserkészmozgalom jelene és jövője

LÁSZLÓ NAGY: The Present and Future of Scouting The scout movement has sixteen million vertified members in 120 countries paying its registration fees. The separate World Organization for girls assembles ten million youngsters in a hundred countries. The number of those who were and are members of the movement today is about 250 million. What is the reason for this 81-year success? Probably the simplest answer is that young people like scouting. They like it because the movement sets aims for them. They like it because scouting is voluntary; all members join of their own free wills. They like it because scouting is a non-political movement — it does not take part in the fight for power — its function is based on principles which agree with the characteristics of the certain age-groups and their beliefs. Lastly, they like it because instead of simply entertaining or providing a school-like education, it tries to concentrate on developing the ability of "learning to exist". It educates by persuading young people "to learn those things on their own which form their personalities and are led by their own desires". These are expressed concisely by the officially declared purpose which states that young people should achieve "their full physical, intellectual, social, and spiritual potentials as individuals, as responsible citizens, and as members of their local, national, and international communities". To achieve these goals there are certain principles which help call attention to the duty to God, duty to others, and duty to self. We can find references to the values of spiritual and intellectual life in them, as well as emphasis on loyalty to one's country, world friendship, and mutual understanding. The three dimensions of scouting, those of intellectual, social, and individual purposes have retained their undiminished attractive force. This, not to a small extent, can be attributed to those methods which serve the realization of these principles. The first such method is the "Promise and Law" which draws attention to the continuous adherence to moral values and the continuous endeavour to perform according to one's best ability. The second important method is "Learning by doing". This is the observance of the pedagogigal hypothes which claims that "a boy is usually more inclined to act than to attain knowledge". These are completed by the third component, the life of small groups, consisting of members of equal rank which makes relationships very important. Within these relationships, getting to know each other is accompanied hy mutual respect and by the feeling of freedom and spontaneity. The above mentioned three components of the movement are stated concretely in the Scout Constitution and are encorporated into the complex activities. The program itself is made qualified by three elements: adherence, to principles, alignment with the changing wishes of the youth, and a useful compliance of the program with social demands. These three points are the basis of the successes which are guaranted by "the highest decining authority in the field of education — the child himself'. I 29