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186 IDEAL HOME LIFE
The love of glory is the dominant feeling in a primitive soul; and, like all instincts, is consistently used in Woodcraft. The exercises in the council ring afford a chance to achieve glory, to win victories; that is, to be approved and applauded by those who look on.
The activities begin with purely physical things—as contests of strength or skill, one-legged fights, badger pulls, etc. Then follow tub-tilts and team play games. Soon confidence begotten of these makes it easy to introduce song, dance, recital. The imagination is played on by "movies"; that is, dumb-show acts and interpretative dances. Stories are given an important place. Honors are distributed, on evidence, for things done elsewhere. Patriotic songs or simple anthems addressed to the Great Spirit are used in closing.
The plan of man's development is followed in brief. Every basic instinct is used. If it be a dangerous instinct, it is guided, not crushed. As much as possible, the work is outdoors and deals with the beautiful things of nature so dear to every young soul. There is no lack of interest. The thousand activities classified in the manual will in some sort appeal to every human being.
This we maintain before the world: The first aim of education is to make, not an athlete or a scholar or a politician or a religionist, but a man. He must be developed in the fourfold way, physical, mental, social, spiritual; any one of these left out makes a poor citizen. Any educational plan that does not take them all is doomed to failure.
There can be no doubt that every school and college that would prosper and continue must modify its way to incorporate this simple, natural scheme.
This is a portrait of the Woodcraft boy who has entered our ranks and finished in the high degree.
He is physically strong and a trained athlete, dignified, courteous, self-controlled, happy in helping, equipped for emergencies, wise in the ways of the woods, in touch with the world of men and affairs; not specializing, but of such all-round development that he can quickly be made a specialist in any needy place, and filled with a religion that consists not of mere |
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