Patrol Method in Practice – The Character School by CLARKE GREEN on JANUARY 3, 2013

The patrol system is not one method in which Scouting for boys can be carried on. It is the only method.

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

- Baden Powell

Two things drive character development; the example of role models and interaction with peers.

Being told how they ought to act or having good conduct modeled for them is only the first step. The real work happens when Scouts develop mutual respect for each other and foster coöperation within a group of equals. This coöperation is where the really radical idea of Scouting, self-government through the patrol method, takes place.

When Scouts, make their own plans, formulate their own rules, keep up their own discipline, elect  their own leadership charged with implementing these plans they have the opportunity to learn through experience what it means to belong to a group and to accept personal responsibility.

Within the troop and patrol  Scouts act on the notion of reciprocity. Cooperation, with all its troubles and triumphs,  enables each Scout to discover more about themselves and integrate the concepts of the oath and law into their own character.

When we have real self-government the Scout Oath and law are no longer just a bunch of concepts preached by adults. They find meaning in the life of the patrol and troop, individual responsibilities become group responsibilities.

Baden-Powell understood  that role models have a limited influence on Scouts, that character really develops through  small group interactions.  That’s why he was so adamant about the patrol system, that “the Scoutmaster has to be neither schoolmaster nor commanding officer, nor pastor, nor instructor” and  ”all that is needed is the capacity to enjoy the out-of-doors, to enter into the boysʼ ambitions, to put himself on the level of the older brother, that is, to see things from the Scoutʼs point of view, and to lead and guide and give enthusiasm in the right direction.”

If we limited character development  to role models a Scout  would become increasingly dependent on them  We want to foster cooperative independence through the patrol method. As BP said:”The patrol is the character school for the individual”.

The central importance of the patrol system prioritizes everything else about Scouting. It’s a little jarring at first! We think that the content of our meetings and camping trips are all-important, but they are actually just decorative. We think that the metrics of attendance, membership, fundraising and advancement are important but they are merely indicators.

Instead of spending our time on decorations and indicators let’s concentrate on the real heart of the matter – the patrol method. If we build the patrol method the program features and metrics will follow.

Transition from Adult to Youth Leadership – The Patrol Leader’s Council by CLARKE GREEN on JULY 13, 2009

A healthy patrol leaders council  (PLC) is the heart of a youth led troop. It should gather often to discuss and plan the troop’s program. The senior patrol leader (SPL) chairs the PLC, the Scribe keeps minutes and the meeting is open to patrol leaders (PL) and any other youth leaders, although the SPL, ASPL and PL's are the only voting members, any youth's opinion should be heard by the PLC.

I’d suggest that the PLC meet before and after every troop meeting for a few minutes and once a month for an hour or so. In lieu of our regular Monday troop meeting the PLC meets on the Monday after our monthly outing. Monthly meetings are a bit more formal than those held weekly, this is were the PLC will do the bulk of its planning, discussion and decision making. It should follow an agenda, maintain minutes and use salient elements of the rules of order. The PLC also meets every night when we are camping.

As a rule the Scoutmaster is the only adult who actively participates in meetings of the PLC, and only at the invitation of the SPL. Other adult leaders may observe but must not speak unless they are spoken to. Scoutmasters and their assistants tend to have all the answers and/or a great deal to say about planning and presenting the Troop’s program. However helpful or informative they may feel they are being their input tends to diminish the process of Scouts finding some important things out for themselves. The role of adult  leadership when the PLC is meeting should be clearly understood and strictly followed.

Weekly meetings are much less formal – ten minutes before the troop meets, ten minutes after. Before meetings the PLC reviews plans and checks to see that all is in readiness, after meetings they discuss that evening’s meeting, address any concerns that arose and review plans for the next week.

A Scoutmaster who listens carefully at these meetings will see many opportunities to interject a bit of coaching and mentoring into the proceedings. He may want to ask some questions that will help focus the efforts of the PLC.  In forming a new troop, or in a PLC that has significantly changed due to leadership elections, or in the case of a troop transitioning to youth leadership the Scoutmaster may have a somewhat more active role in the PLC but it must be a measured and disciplined role.

At the end of each meeting of the PLC the Scoutmaster should have the opportunity to make some brief remarks. When a PLC is running smoothly these remarks should be something along the lines of  ”You seem to have a handle on things, you’re doing a good job, unless you have any questions for me I’m finished.”

This is a self assessment tool to help gauge how well a troop applies the patrol method.  It may be a good idea to have several adults and youth troop members complete the assessment and discuss the results. This is not very scientific but it will at least give you an idea of where you are. Here’s PDF version you can download.

Chose only one option for each pair of statements

150 -200  -  GOOD GOING!
100 – 150  -  KEEP GOING!
100 OR LESS  -  GET GOING!