Basic Course for Flock Leaders
Self Learning Module No. 5
Guide Promise and Guide Law The Guide Promise and Law form the foundation of Guiding. These two present a high ideal for us yet it is practicable and within our reach. In this module, you will be able to understand the fundamental method (Promise and Law) through which Guiding contributes to the development of young people. Objectives At the end of this Module, you should be able to: 1. State the Guide Promise and Law. 2. Explain the meaning of Guide Promise and Law.
Thought for Reflection I honestly believe that any Guide who carries out the whole Guide Law in her daily work and play, not only while she is a girl but afterwards also, when she is a woman, is bound to make a success of her life. - Baden-Powell
The principles and practice of the Guide Movement are based upon the Guide Promise and Guide Law. The words and concepts are simple and set out the commitment in a way that a young person might say it naturally. They are together a code of living placed before every member of the Movement. Every person, is asked to make or renew the Guide Promise as an outward expression of his intention to try to live upto the principles and ideals of the Movement. It is important to realise that the implications of the Guide Promise and Law – although they are expressed in the terms a girl can understand, they are applicable to adult leaders no less than to those they lead.
THE GUIDE PROMISE “On my honour, I promise that, I will do my bestto do my duty to God* and my Country, to help other people and to obey the Guide Law.” (*The word Dharma may be substituted if so desired.) Reflection on the Guide Promise
The Promise is a voluntary commitment. Through the Promise, we make a commitment to be the best we can be. We make a commitment to ourselves and our country. We promise to make the Guide Law an integral part of our life. Making the Promise is a very important moment in the life of a Guide. The young people decide if they are ready to make the commitment.
MAKING THE PROMISE IS A VERY IMPORTANT MOMENT IN THE LIFE OF A GUIDE The Promise is not made at just any time. A special time, in a suitable place, with due preparation is required. It is called as Investiture Ceremony. You will experience it during your Basic Course. A Guide is active in doing good, not passive in being good. - Baden-Powell
THE GUIDE LAW 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. 8. 9.
A Guide is trustworthy. A Guide is loyal. A Guide is a friend to all and a brother to every other Scout. A Guide is courteous. A Guide is a friend to animals and loves nature. A Guide is disciplined and helps protect public property. A Guide is courageous. A Guide is thrifty. A Guide is pure in thought, word and deed.
Reflections on the Guide Law The proposals contained in the Guide Law may help you to:
broaden your understanding on them
think about their impact on your own life; and
find the words and images to present them to the young people.
Trustworthy: A person is trustworthy when his words and deeds are consistent with what they carry inside. To be trustworthy we have to love the truth and be true to what is true. It is about living and thinking-as far as possible- in truth, even if that should causes pain and misfortune. Loyal: Loyalty is durablity of our faith in what is important. It depends on the values you are being faithful. Only through Loyalty it is possible to have a life plan, to project our present commitment as a way of life. Friend to all and a sister to every other Guide: A Guide is a friend to all. He is a sister to other Guides. She offers her friendship to people of all races and nations, and respects them even if their beliefs and customs are different from her own. Courteous: It is being polite to everyone regardless of age or position. A Guide knows good manners and makes it easier for people to get along together. Friend to animals and loves nature: This means to be aware of the relationship between humankind and other animal and plant species. It is to respect nature and make an active commitment to the integrity of the environment. Disciplined and helps protect public property: To follow the rules of her family, school, and Company. Obeying the laws of one’s community and country and also help in protecting the public property. Courageous: A Guide can face danger although she is afraid. She has the courage to stand for what she thinks is right even if others laugh at her or threaten her. Thrifty: One who works to pay her way and to help others. She saves for unforeseen needs. She protects and conserves natural resources. She carefully uses time and property. Pure in thought, word and deed: Something is pure when it is free of anything that could alter or adultrate its basic nature. So purity, understood as cleanliness of heart is the opposite of interest, selfishness, and anything that could contaminate our thought, word or deed. Purity is loving the other truely, as a person, respecting them, defending them even against our own desire. For that reason, this last proposal of the Guide Law invites us to take a good look at ourselves, to constantly question the integrity of our souls, and of our thoughts, words and deeds. The Guide Law is proposed, not imposed. The Guide Law proposes living by our values. It is important to realise that the Founder has taken so much care to ensure that every part of the Guide Law is positively worded. There are no negatives. Girls like Do’s very much and not Don't’s. The Law is expressed in simple words easily understandable by girls.
Ideas for Practise
Using your mobile camera, take pictures that illustrate what the Promise means to you. You can show it to your LOC for her suggestions when you attend your Basic Training Course.
Look for examples of the Guide Law being valued or being broken in the daily News paper.
For further Reading: 1. Girl Guiding in India* 2. APRO Part – III* * Books published by The Bharat Scouts and Guides, National Headquarters, New Delhi.
Basic Course for Flock Leaders
Self Learning Module No. 6
Group System - Group Council, Group Committee and Group Finance The system of maintaining the Bulbul, Guide and Ranger Units in one locality or institution, in order to offer progressive training suitable to the members of different age groups is known as the Group System. Objectives At the end of this Module, you should be able to: 1. Explain the purpose of the Group System. 2. List functions of the Group Committee and Group Council 3. State the responsibilities of Group Leader/Guides Thought for Reflection To get the most out of the Guide training, a girl should pass progressively through the stages of Bulbul, Guide and Ranger. - Baden-Powell
Guiding aims at preparing the individual for life in society and for good citizenship. BULBULS
Girls who have completed 5 years of age but not more than 10 years of age GUIDES Girls who have completed 10 years of age but not completed 17 years of age RANGERS Young women who have completed 15 years of age but not completed 25 years of age. One can continue as a Service Ranger up to the age of 35 years. The Bulbul, Guide and Ranger training all have the same basic aim and object. They all address themselves to the task of preparing the individual for life in society and for good citizenship. In each stage we have the same principles adapted to the changed psychology of the pupil, i.e. in each stage we develop her: 1. Character and Intelligence 2. Handicraft and Skill 3. Health and Strength 4. Service for others All these emphasise the need to have all the three sections namely the Bulbul Flock, the Guide Company and the Ranger Team. A Guide Group consists of one or more of the three sections. Thus a Guide Group could comprise of a Bulbul Flock and Guide Company only, or a Guide Company
and Ranger Team only. A full-fledged Guide Group will consist of all the three sections, Bulbul, Guide and Ranger. It must, therefore, be our aim to get our Groups complete, where this is not already the case, and to make them real family Units, self-supporting and self-contained. The importance of the Guide Group is that:
It provides a happy family Unit in which the boy is continuously trained from entry as a Bulbul;
It ensures that such training is progressive, that the girl’s widening interests are catered for, and that each girl is continually increasing her knowledge and skill and particularly her realization of the full meaning of the Guide Promise and Law;
It avoids overlapping between the various sections;
It helps the girl to proceed happily from one section to another when the time comes, as she proceeds from class to class in a school;
It makes all the Guiders friendly colleagues.
Group Leader/Guides (GL/G) Where a Group consists of more than one Unit, a person other than the persons in charge of those Units, preferably (and if available) one having training and experience in all the 3 sections, is appointed as the Group Leader/Guides. But when such a separate person who is not holding charge of Unit is not available, the most experienced of the Unit Leaders of that Group can be appointed as the Group Leader/Guides (e.g. if there are only a Flock Leader and a Guide Captain in a Group, one of them can be appointed as the Group Leader/Guides.
Functions of the Group Leader/Guides 1. To develop in due course a complete Group. 2. To exercise general supervision over all Units of the Group and to coordinate their activities. Provided, she may delegate responsibility in the actual management of the Guiders in charge of the respective Units. 3. To act as the Chairman of the Group Council. 4. To encourage co-operation between the Guiders of the Group. 5. To ensure formation of a Group Committee of which she shall be a member. 6. To deal with matters concerned with the Group not specifically provided for herein.
Group Registration:
A Group has to be registered with the State Association through the District/Local Association and on such registration; the State Association shall issue a Charter signed by the State Chief Commissioner and the State Secretary. The registration needs to be renewed annually. Group Council:
Where a Group consists of two or more Units the Guiders of the Units shall form the Group Council. The Group Leader/Guides shall be the Chairman of the Group Council.
The Group Council will be dealing with all matters of the Group such as training, testing, programmes, camps and hikes. A report of the activity will be submitted to the District Commissioner. The Annual report of the year when due shall be sent along with census report of each year to the District Secretary or Local Association Secretary.
Group Committee:
There shall be a Group Committee for each Group. The Group Committee will consist of parents of Bulbuls, Guides, Rangers, former Guides and other persons interested in the welfare of the Guide Movement. The person elected by the Group Committee shall be the Chairman.
The Group Leader shall be Member Secretary of the Group Committee.
The Group Committee will take care of the Group Management except training and testing of Guides.
The Group Committee shall be responsible for the property movable and immovable of the Group.
The property of a Group shall vest in Trust or Trusts under a deed of Trust and shall be administered by the Group Committee in the event of a disbandment of the Group Committee. The property movable and immovable shall vest in the Local or District Association as the case may be.
Group Finance:
The Group Finance shall consist of subscription, raised from among the members. There shall be no general appeal for funds outside the area of Group and without the permission of the Local or the District Association as the case may be. Money shall not be solicited but shall be earned. Grant-inaid is permissible.
The Group Committee shall administer the Group Finance.
An Attempt to Recollect Try testing your memory by answering the following questions: 1. What are the four areas we develop in our members in whatever stage they are in, i.e. Bulbul, or Guide or Ranger? 2. Who is the member secretary of the Group Committee? 3. Who signs the Charter of a Guide Group? 4. Which are the ceremonies of the Bulbul Flock and the Ranger Team a Group Leader/Guide is expected to attend? Fill in the blanks: 1. A complete group consists of ______, _______ & _______ sections. 2. The person in-charge of a Group is known as _______________. 3. The Group Finance is administered by ____________________. 4. The Charter of the Group is issued by___________________ Suggested Activity 1.
2.
Visit a nearby Guide Group and observe how the Group functions and how they coordinate between all the three sections. Discuss with the Group Leader/Guides about his experience in working with the Leaders of other sections (Guide and Ranger).
For further Reading: 1. A Complete Handbook for Flock Leaders* 2. RuIes* * Books published by The Bharat Scouts and Guides, National Headquarters, New Delhi.
How much have I got it right? Here are the answers to your memory test: 1. What are the four areas we develop in our members in whatever stage they are in, i.e. Bulbul, or Guide or Ranger? Character and Intelligence; Handicraft and Skill; Health and Strength; And Service for others 2. Who is the member secretary of the Group Committee? The Group Leader. 3. Who signs the Charter of a Scout Group once? The State Chief Commissioner and the State Secretary. 4. Which are the ceremonies of the Bulbul Flock and the Ranger Team a Group Leader/Guide is expected to attend? Going-up Ceremony and Leave Taking Ceremony. Fill in the blanks: 1. A complete group consists of Bulbul, Guide & Ranger sections. 2. The person in-charge of a Group is known as Group Leader/Guide. 3. The Group Finance is administered by the Group Committee. 4. The Charter of the Group is issued by the State Association.
Basic Course for Flock Leaders
Self Learning Module No. 7
Organisation - District Association, Local Association Organisation is a process, which integrates different type of activities to achieve organisational goals and objectives, to achieve these goals there must be competent management providing them all those factors to perform their job efficiently and effectively. Organisation is nothing but a process of integrating and coordinating the efforts of men and material for the accomplishment of set objectives. Objectives At the end of this Module, you should be able to: 4. Explain the composition and the functions of the District Association. 5. Explain the composition and the functions of the Local Association. Thought for Reflection Through optimum utilisation of resources and proper division of work, the challenges can be easily meet and activities expanded in a planned manner.
The Organisational set up of the Bharat Scouts and Guides from Unit/Group to the National level is given below:
THE BHARAT SCOUTS AND GUIDES NATIONAL ASSOCIATION
STATE ASSOCIATION
DIVISIONAL / DISTRICT / LOCAL ASSOCIATION
DISTRICT
ASSOCIATION GUIDE GROUP
GROUPS
SCOUT GROUP
(SPONSORED / OPEN)
CUB PACK
SCOUT TROOP
SIXES
PATROLS
CUBS
SCOUTS
ROVER CREW
ADHOC PATROLS
ROVERS
BULBUL FLOCK
GUIDE COMPANY
RANGER TEAM
SIXES
PATROLS
ADHOC PATROLS
BULBULS
GUIDES
RANGERS
A District Association is formed in each Revenue District in the State or for a part or parts of a Revenue District or for two or more Revenue Districts or for such area as determined by the State Executive Committee from time to time.
The District Association is registered with the State Association. Every Registered District Association will receive a Charter from the State Association signed by the State Chief Commissioner and the State Secretary. Annual Registration Fees as fixed by the State Executive Committee will have to be paid to the State Association by the District Association. Membership of District Association is open to the citizens of India residing within the jurisdiction of the District Association who subscribe to the purpose and objects of the Organisation. The members of District Association consist of: (a) General members (c) Ordinary Members (e) Institutional Members
(b) Life members (d) Members of the Local Association (f) Special Members.
District Council The terms of the District Council is 5 years from the date of its First meeting in which the new Council is constituted. The District Council ordinarily meets once every year. The President presides over the District Council Meetings. The primary functions of the District Council are to elect its President, Vice Presidents and members of the District Executive Committee; approve its Annual Report and the Annual Audited Statement of Accounts; approve the Budget of the District Association; lay down the Bye Laws of the District; implement the policies and programmes with regard to training of Scouts and Guides; collect Individual
Registration Fee from Scout and Guide Groups and send it to the State Association every year; Approve the Annual Programme; and appoint Auditors Office Bearers and Officers The office bearers and officers of the District Association are: President Vice Presidents (Maximum 6 of whom 3 shall be women) District Chief Commissioner District Commissioner of Scouts District Commissioner of Guides District Treasurer District Secretary Joint District and Assistant District Secretaries (one of whom shall be a woman), Assistant District Commissioner of Scouts Assistant District Commissioner of Guides District Organising Commissioner of Scouts District Organising Commissioner of Guides Headquarters Commissioner of Scouts Headquarters Commissioner of Guides District Training Commissioner of Scouts District Training Commissioner of Guides District Quartermaster Assistant Leader Trainers residing in the area Leader Trainers residing in the area The District Commissioners may appoint Training Counsellors of Scouts and Guides on the recommendation of the District Training Commissioner concerned. District Executive Committee The District Executive Committee meets at least once in every six months. Its important functions are to: form the Local Association; secure registration and renewal of Local Associations; control and administer the funds and properties of the District Association; convene the meeting of the District Council; recommend Scouters, Guiders and others in the District for Awards; secure registration and renewal of Scout and Guide Groups; elect the District Treasurer; to appoint District Scout and Guide Committees; recommend to the District Council the Bye Laws; collect and submit Individual Registration fee to the State; elect representatives for the State Council; appoint six Trustees. The District Badge Committee recommends suitable persons as Instructors and Examiners of various Proficiency Badges and Examiners to Test the Advancement Badges for Cubs, Bulbuls, Scouts, Guides, Rovers and Rangers. The District Planning Committee is responsible for planning the development of Scouting and Guiding in the District. The other Committees in the District are: The District Finance Committee The District Adult Resources Management Committee The District Scout Committee
The District Guide Committee The District Youth Committee The District Community Development Committee LOCAL ASSOCIATION Formation: The State Association forms a Local Association for any area consisting of not more than 100 Scout and Guide Units dividing the area of the District Association. Wherever the number of Scouts and Guides are more, a Local Association is formed for every 15 to 20 Units. Registration: All Local Associations are registered with the State Association through the concerned District or Divisional Association. In the absence of a District/Divisional Association, it is directly registered with the State Association. Charter: Every Registered Local Association will receive a Charter from the State Association signed by the State Chief Commissioner and the State Secretary. Fee: Annual Registration Fees as fixed by the State Executive Committee will have to be paid to the State Association by the Local Association.
Membership of Local Association is open to the citizens of India residing within the jurisdiction of Local Association who subscribe to the purpose and objects of the Organisation. The members of Local Association consist of: (a) General members (c) Ordinary Members (d) Special Members.
(b) Life members (d) Institutional Members
Office Bearers and Officials The office bearers and officials of the Local Association are: The President, Vice Presidents (Maximum 6 of whom 3 shall be women), Chairman of the Executive Committee, Assistant District Commissioner of Scouts, Assistant District Commissioner of Guides, Treasurer, Secretary and Joint Secretary (one of whom shall be a woman), Quartermaster and Badge Secretary, Leader Trainers and Assistant Leader Trainers residing in the area, and Training Counsellors. Local Council The Local Council meets once a year and its tenure is for five years. The primary functions of the Local Council are to elect its office bearers and members of the Local Executive Committee, approve the Budget of the Local Association and adopts its Annual Report and the Annual Audited Statement of Accounts, to implement the policies and programmes with regard to training of Scouts and Guides and for Adult Leaders, to collect Individual Registration Fee from Scout and Guide Groups and send it to the District Association every year, and appoint Auditors. Local Executive Committee The Local Executive Committee meets at least once in every four months. It elects its Chairman; forms Groups and Units; convenes the meetings of the Local Council; controls and administers the funds and properties of the LA; recommends to the Local Council for considering, approving and adopting the Budget, Audited Statement of Accounts and the Annual Report; organises local level Camps and Rallies; secures registration of Scout and Guide Groups; elects the Treasurer; etc. The two other committees of the Local Association are the Local Finance Committee and the Local Adult Resources Management Committee. The details provided in this module with regard to the District Association and the Local Association is broad based. In order to find out the rules pertaining to all matters relating to the District Association and the Local Association, you need to refer to the Rules Book of the Bharat Scouts and Guides. For further Reading: 3. A Complete Handbook for Flock Leaders* 4. Rules Book* 5. Job Profile* * Books published by The Bharat Scouts and Guides, National Headquarters, New Delhi.
Suggested Activity Make a list of the current Office bearers in your Local Association/District Association and keep updating it from time to time.
Basic Course for Scout Masters
Self Learning Module No. 8
Nature Study Nature study at an early age is about exposure and a growing awareness of what is surrounding you at all times. Your enthusiasm is so crucial to capturing your child’s interest. Think about what interests you about the outdoors and then come up with a way to involve your Bulbuls. Objectives At the end of this Module, you should be able to: 6. Explain the Importance of Nature Study. 7. List the activities related to studying nature that could be undertaken by Bulbuls. Thought for Reflection Adults should realize that the most valuable thing children can learn is what they discover themselves about the world they live in. Once they experience first-hand the wonder of nature, they will want to make nature observation a life-long habit. - Charlotte Mason
Why Nature Study Being surrounded by nature and natural items provides infinite benefits to children. 1. Nature study lays the foundation for formal science studies. The child lays stores images and ideas to access and use in making personal connections when she reads about them in a science book later. 2. Nature study makes science interesting. A child who has the advantage of nature study, an “appreciative knowledge of things to begin with,” can easily reach the “living science” level. 3. Nature study increases the child’s capacity to understand the unknown. “Byand-by she will have to conceive of things she has never seen: how can she do it except by comparison with things she has seen and knows?” 4. Nature study cultivates a love of investigation. It exposes them to things that are alive and growing and promotes curiosity and exploration.
5. Nature study gives the child a sense of ownership and stewardship of the Earth. 6. Nature study prepares the child’s heart to worship God. 7. Nature study enriches a child’s life. A love of Nature, implanted so early will enrich their lives with pure interests, absorbing pursuits, health, and good. 8. Nature instills in everyone a sense of beauty and calmness. 9. Nature study increases the child’s intellect and makes her a more interesting person. 10. With an adult as a guide, children can learn about being gentle and respecting living things. 11. Self-esteem can thrive outdoors because nature doesn’t judge people. 12. At a time when bullying is prevalent—even in preschools—exposure to nature can help remind children that the world contains an infinite variety of things and all are important. 13. To observe nature requires patience and quiet watchfulness. 14. Imagination comes into play as children create special places and use natural items to create stories and play. 15. All senses become engaged when children interact with the natural world.
Nature Study Activities The level of exposure to nature given to the Bulbuls would very much depend on you the Flock Leader. You need to be first of all interested in nature. You have to be highly imaginative to design activities. There are so many books for you to refer to and also you need to seek the help of nature lovers. The more frequent your Bulbuls are exposed to outdoor activities, the merrier they would feel, and their knowledge about nature would keep progressing. A few suggestions: 1. Walk around to study plant species. Have a close look at the shape, size and colour of leaves; shape, size and colour of flowers; the types of barks; the varieties of fruits; the patterns of stems and branches etc. 2. Create opportunities to observe birds, animals and insects. Nature walks would help a lot to observe birds, animals and insects, their nesting pattern, the colour, shape and size of eggs, etc. 3. Observe the water creatures preferably in a pond or a small lake. 4. Recognise the sounds in nature – from animals, birds, insects, movement of trees, wind, etc. 5. Watch sunrise, sunset and the starts at night.
6. Make a collection of dry leaves, flowers, seeds, nuts, shells, fallen feathers etc. 7. Teach how to make carbon impressions and ink impressions of leaves and how to make pressed specimen. 8. Organise nature walks exclusively to observe and learn about tracks of animals and birds. 9. Make plaster casts of the footprints of animals and birds. 10. Help maintain a nature diary – Bulbuls to be encouraged to note down what they observe, collect pictures related to what they have seen, etc. 11. Organise visits to Parks, Zoo, Botanical gardens, Plant Nurseries, Aquarium, Planetarium, Museum, Lakes, and Beaches. 12. Organise visits to farms (agricultural farm, poultry farm, dairy farm, fish farm, crocodile farm etc.) 13. Undertake gardening. 14. Encourage having pets at home. 15. Show them photographs, pictures, books and videos about birds, animals, insects, plants etc.
It would be highly educative and motivating for the Bulbuls if you as the Flock Leader could collect pictures, posters, pamphlets etc., on animals, birds and insects – their food habits, habitat, breeding; specimen leaves, dry fruits, nuts, flowers; impressions of leaves and flowers etc., and display it at the Flock Den from time to time.
Suggested Activity 3.
Prepare a Scrapbook on Nature. Paste on it pictures or draw pictures of animals, birds, insects and plants we find in India.
4.
Make a collection of dry leaves, flowers, nuts and seeds of different shapes, size and colour and preserve them for display.
5.
Make various types of impressions (carbon, ink etc.) of leaves.
6.
Collect information and pictures on habitat, breeding system, and food of animal, birds and insects.
For further Reading: 3. A Complete Handbook for Flock Leaders* 4. Children’s Encyclopedia of the Birds by Dr. Subhash C. Maheswari, Published by ABC Publishing House. 5. Some Indian Birds by N.N. Majumdar, Published by Children’s Book Trust. 6. House Plants by Peter McHoy, Published by Pustak Mahal. 7. Our Useful Plants, Published by National Book Trust, India 8. Animal World, Published by Children’s Book Trust. 9. How Insects Live by Walter M. Blaney, Published by Galley Press. 10. Manorama Tell Me Why: MAMMALS, Published by M.M. Publications 11. Manorama Tell Me Why: REPTILES, Published by M.M. Publications 12. Manorama Tell Me Why: AMPHIBIANS, Published by M.M. Publications 13. Manorama Tell Me Why: BIRDS OF PREY, Published by M.M. Publications 14. The World of Turtles and Crocodiles, Published by National Book Trust, India * Books published by TheBharat Scouts and Guides, National Headquarters, New Delhi.