Future War Or Public HealthTo Address Which

Future War Or Public Health-To Address Which Of These Needs Were The British Boys Scouts First Created. Essay, Research Paper

Future war or public health – To address which of these needs were the British Boys Scouts first created.This essay discusses the historical context of the British Boy Scouts from 1908 to 1918. The essay looks at what inspired and influenced Baden-Powell the founder of the Boy Scouts to create the movement. Including his personal social and emotional needs combined with Edwardian ideals, patriotism and middle class values. It examines Powell’s military career and how this moulded and equipped him with knowledge and experience contributing to the creation of the Boy scouts. The essay looks at why the handbook Scouting for Boys became a powerful source of manipulative discourse instilling patriotism, to fight for King, Queen, Country and Empire using military terminology through the use of semiology. Powell continues to cleverly link public health to military success to secure the British Empire. Also how the working classes were disadvantaged by the movement when they were in most need of public health. The essay explores the impact on other youth groups of the time in terms of support and contest for his movement. Baden-Powell was born in 1880 and died in 1941 he had a successful military career including the famous siege of Mafeking 1899-1900 during the Boar War. Evidence from Appendix 1 lists some biographical details showing how the military shaped his understanding of life. On one hand Baden-Powell was said to be a sadistic executioner although on the other hand a homosexual that had a genuine desire to give boys back their boyhood to give them the opportunity to be themselves through educational outdoor play. It can be said he gained great pleasure from seeing boys play, undress and work together. This may have contributed to his strong desire to head the Scout movement with a view to help boys enjoy a healthier boyhood but with no reservation or conscious to killing for military ends. Furthermore Powell’s educational achievements fell short of his mother’s expectations. However through the Boys Scouts he could now gain her respect through Patriotism to the ‘Mother Country’ while fulfilling his social and emotional needs With this evidence in mind creating the scouts may have been considered an tempting proposition to Powell. (Video.1997. Secret lives). Due to lack of soldiers during the siege of Mafeking, Powell formed the Mafeking cadet corps aged 9 and older. They carried messages between the town defences and they acted as look out to warn the forces when attacks were expected. They also helped with duties in the hospitals. After overwhelming success in the Boar War Powell returned to England in 1901 a national hero. He discovered that his book Aid to scouting 1899 intended for army members had been used as a text book in boys schools which may have helped inspired his desire to create the Boy Scouts. Appendix 2 shows books written by Powell throughout his life (Internet). Many of the books show a strong emphasis toward military tactics which suggests how important this must have been in Powell’s life. This evidence from Mafeking together with his biographical military evidence and his writing style shows his vision of training the rising generation of boys for possible future fighting may have been conceived several years before the origin of the Boy Scouts. Through the Boy Scout’s movement it may be considered that Powell’s motive was carefully calculated and skilfully concealed to secure the success, wealth and power of The British Empire through success in future war. As an imperialist, Baden-Powell saw the key to future success of the empire was through a strong army. He saw that success in war could be gained by educating and conditioning boys at an early age through changing their attitude and behaviour. William Smith (1854-1914) Baden-Powell’s friend and leader of the Boys Brigade suggested he re-write his army manual of Mafeking in a form that could be applied to boys. Baden-Powell’s original intentions were to amalgamate the Boy’s Scouts with the Boy’s Brigades and other youth clubs Although Smith W would not entertain the joining of forces, as he saw the Boy’s Scouts heading in a different direction to the Boys Birgade with a strictly overt military structure supported by religion instruction. Also the Boy Scouts was an unknown initiative with strong idea of patriotism and good citizenship with the intentions of strengthen the Empire and this would have drastically changed the character of his brigade. Similarly Baden-Powell consulted Ernest Thompson Seton the founder of the Woodcraft youth club but soon discovered their visions lacked synergy. Seton E.T only aimed to promote a scheme of out door life through education, naturalism and socialism through his American Woodcraft Indians. Baden- Powell had a greater mission in life, ‘to instil patriotism and national identity’, he had wrongly assumed that the existing youth movements would readily adopt his ethics to their existing programmes. (Springhall J.O. 1977 p40). This did not deter Powell, in 1907 he took a group of boys camping on Brownsea Island in Poole Harbour, Dorset to try out his ideas. The camp was a great success and Brownsea Island became the birthplace of the Scouts. He did not anticipate this overwhelming support for the Scouts, as boys preferred to band themselves together as