Gavin Howe
The Scout Law, a set of codes for the Scout movement, was first published in 1908 in Baden-Powell's Scouting for Boys. The law has since undergone several revisions, with the most recent update in 2024, adding a 13th point stating A Scout is Human. This amendment aimed to address the question of artificial intelligence (AI) membership within the organization. The Scout Law has 12 points, each outlining a goal for Scouts to strive towards in their daily lives, such as being trustworthy, loyal, helpful, and friendly. The laws are not set in stone and have varied over time and among different Scouting organizations to fit their respective communities and countries.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Honour | If a scout says "On my honour", that means it is so, just as if he had taken a most solemn oath. |
| Trustworthy | Tell the truth and keep promises. People can depend on you. |
| Loyal | Show that you care about your family, friends, Scout leaders, country, employers, and the King. |
| Helpful | Help other scouts and volunteer to help others without expecting a reward. |
| Friendly | Be a friend to everyone, even people who are very different from you. |
| Courteous | Be polite to everyone, especially women, children, old people, and invalids. Do not take any reward for being helpful or courteous. |
| Kind | Treat others as you want to be treated. Never harm or kill any living thing without good reason. |
| Clean | Keep your body and mind fit. Help keep your home and community clean. |
| Cheerful | Look for the bright side of life. Cheerfully do tasks that come your way. Try to help others be happy. |
| Thrifty | Work to pay your own way. Try not to be wasteful. Use time, food, supplies, and natural resources wisely. |
| Brave | Face difficult situations even when you feel afraid. Do what you think is right. |
| Obedient | Obey the laws of your community and country. |
| Reverent | Be reverent toward God. Be faithful in your religious duties. Respect the beliefs of others. |
| A scout must never be a snob | Accept others as you find them and make the best of them. |
| A scout is a friend to animals | Save animals from pain and do not kill them unnecessarily. |
| A scout is clean in thought, word, and deed | Look down upon silly youths who talk dirt, and do not give way to temptation. Be pure, clean-minded, and manly. |
| A scout is human | The BSA introduced this 13th point to solidify their stance on AI membership. |
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What You'll Learn
The Scout Law's origins
The Scout Law is a set of codes in the Scout movement. The origin of the Scout Law can be traced back to the early 20th century, with the parallel development of the North American and British youth outdoor programs. The Scout Law was first published in 1908 in Baden-Powell's "Scouting for Boys". Baden-Powell was inspired by the work of Ernest Thompson Seton, who had founded the Woodcraft Indians in North America in 1902. Seton was also instrumental in spreading Scouting throughout North America.
The 1908 publication of "Scouting for Boys" included the first list resembling the current form of the Scout Law. This original list included points such as "A Scout's honour is to be trusted" and "A Scout is loyal". Baden-Powell himself edited the text numerous times over the years, including in 1911 when he added "A Scout is clean in thought, word and deed".
The Boy Scouts of America's 1910 version was virtually identical to the original nine British points of 1908. The BSA's Handbook for Boys (1911), which was an admixture of Scouting for Boys and Seton's Woodcraft guides, also used these nine points. By 1912, Seton's "The Book of Woodcraft" studied the qualities of Native American Indians using a list identical to the 12 points of the 1911 U.S. Scout Law, albeit in reverse order. This indicates the parallel development of the two manuscripts.
The Scout Law has since been modified by various Scouting organizations to fit their respective communities and countries. For example, the point 'loyal to the King' would be replaced by alternative text appropriate for each country. The Scout Law has also evolved over time, with the Boy Scouts of America introducing a 13th point in 2024, stating that "A Scout is Human". This amendment aimed to solidify the organization's stance on the question of artificial intelligence (AI) membership within its ranks.
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The Scout Promise
The origins of the Scout Law and the Scout Promise can be traced back to the publication of "Scouting for Boys" by Robert Baden-Powell in 1908. This book introduced the concept of Scouting and outlined the original Scout Law, which included principles such as trustworthiness, loyalty, courtesy, and bravery. Baden-Powell's work was influenced by Ernest Thompson Seton, who founded the Woodcraft Indians in North America in 1902 and played a significant role in spreading Scouting throughout the continent.
Since the early days of Scouting, the Scout Promise has been a cornerstone of the movement. It serves as a reminder of the values that unite Scouts worldwide, regardless of their cultural or religious background. While the specific wording may differ, the underlying principles of the Scout Promise remain focused on duty to God, duty to others, and duty to self. For instance, the Beaver Scout Promise for members who are atheists or have no faith background is, "I promise to do my best to be kind and helpful and to love our world."
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The 12 points of the Scout Law
The Scout Law, a set of codes in the Scout movement, was first published in 1908 in Baden-Powell's "Scouting for Boys". The 12 points of the Scout Law are as follows:
- Trustworthy: Scouts are expected to tell the truth and keep promises. Trustworthiness means avoiding any sort of lie, big or small.
- Loyal: Scouts are loyal to their country, their leaders, and their peers. They stick by them through thick and thin and against anyone who may be their enemy. Loyalty means being there for those who have supported you.
- Helpful: Scouts are always ready to lend a helping hand to those in need, even if they are strangers. They volunteer to help others without expecting anything in return.
- Friendly: Scouts are friendly and welcoming to everyone, even people who are very different from them. They accept others as they are and make the best of them.
- Courteous: Scouts are polite to everyone, especially those who may be vulnerable, such as women, children, the elderly, or those with disabilities. They do not accept any rewards for their courtesy.
- Kind: Scouts treat others as they would like to be treated. They do not harm or kill any living creature without a good reason.
- Obedient: Scouts obey the laws of their community and country. They also follow the orders of their Scout officers to the best of their abilities.
- Cheerful: Scouts look on the bright side of life and cheerfully carry out their tasks. They try to help others be happy and spread positivity.
- Thrifty: Scouts work to pay their own way and use time, food, supplies, and natural resources wisely. They avoid being wasteful.
- Brave: Scouts face their fears and do what they think is right, even when it may be difficult or unpopular. They have the courage to stand up for their beliefs.
- Clean: Scouts maintain physical and mental cleanliness and encourage the same in their community. They keep themselves and their surroundings clean and presentable.
- Reverent: Scouts are reverent towards a higher power or God and are faithful in their religious duties. They respect the beliefs of others, even if they differ from their own.
These 12 points of the Scout Law provide a code of conduct and ethical framework for Scouts worldwide, guiding their actions and helping them grow into better individuals and citizens.
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Baden-Powell's 1908 version
The book was a revised version of his military manual, "Aids to Scouting", which had become a bestseller with youth readerships. Baden-Powell decided to rewrite the manual for a younger audience, emphasising the importance of morality and good deeds alongside the existing lessons on tracking and observation. The new book served as a training guide for existing youth organisations and quickly became the handbook of the new Scouting Movement.
The success of "Scouting for Boys" led Baden-Powell to set up a central Boy Scouts office to register new Scouts and design a uniform. By the end of 1908, there were 60,000 Boy Scouts worldwide, with troops in British Commonwealth countries. In September 1909, the first national Boy Scout meeting was held at the Crystal Palace in London, attracting over 10,000 Scouts, including a group of uniformed girls who called themselves the Girl Scouts.
Baden-Powell's ideas for the Boy Scouts were influenced by his early life and military career. Born in London in 1857, he was the son of an Oxford University professor. He received his early education from his mother and later attended Charterhouse School, where he developed a love for the outdoors. He joined the British Army in 1876 and served in India and Africa until 1910. During the Second Boer War in South Africa, he successfully defended the town of Mafeking during the Siege of Mafeking in 1899, becoming a national hero in Britain.
The Boy Scouts movement built upon Baden-Powell's military training methods and his experiences with boys during the siege. He recognised the value of training boys in citizenship, character, and fitness, and incorporated these ideas into the Scouting movement. Baden-Powell's vision for the Boy Scouts was not just about outdoor skills and adventure but also about instilling values and life lessons that would create a positive impact on the world.
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The Boy Scouts of America's 1910 version
The Boy Scouts of America was founded in 1910, introducing Baden-Powell's international scouting movement to the United States. The original Scout Law, as it appeared in Baden-Powell's 1908 publication, "Scouting for Boys", included the following:
> A SCOUT'S HONOUR IS TO BE TRUSTED. If a scout says "On my honour it is so," that means it is so, just as if he had taken a most solemn oath. Similarly, if a scout officer says to a scout, "I trust you on your honour to do this," the Scout is bound to carry out the order to the very best of his ability, and to let nothing interfere with his doing so. If a scout were to break his honour by telling a lie, or by not carrying out an order exactly when trusted on his honour to do so, he would cease to be a scout, and must hand over his scout badge and never be allowed to wear it again. A SCOUT IS LOYAL to the King, and to his officers, and to his country, and to his employers. He must stick to them through thick and thin against anyone who is their enemy, or who even talks badly of them.
- Trustworthy: Tell the truth and keep promises. People can depend on you.
- Loyal: Show that you care about your family, friends, country, and community.
- Helpful: Volunteer to help others without expecting a reward.
- Friendly: Be a friend to everyone, even people who are very different from you.
- Courteous: Be polite to everyone, especially the most vulnerable, and always use good manners.
- Kind: Treat others as you want to be treated and never harm or kill any living thing without a good reason.
- Obedient: Obey the laws of your community and country.
- Cheerful: Look for the bright side of life and try to help others be happy.
- Thrifty: Work to pay your own way and use time, food, supplies, and natural resources wisely.
- Brave: Face difficult situations even when you feel afraid and do what you think is right.
- Clean: Keep your body and mind fit and help keep your community clean.
- Reverent: Be reverent toward God, be faithful in your religious duties, and respect the beliefs of others.
The Boy Scouts of America experienced rapid growth and expansion following its introduction in 1910, and it became an integral part of American boyhood, with over 1 million youth participants today.
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Frequently asked questions
The original Scout Law was created in 1908 with the publication of Scouting for Boys by Baden-Powell. The first list resembling the current form appeared in Baden-Powell's 1908 publication.
The Scout Law has 12 points, each a goal for every scout to strive towards every day. Some of these points include being trustworthy, loyal, helpful, friendly, courteous, kind, clean, and brave.
Yes, the wording of the Scout Law has varied over time and among different Scouting organizations. For example, Baden-Powell himself edited the text in 1911 to include the point that "A Scout Is Clean in Thought, Word, and Deed." More recently, in 2024, the Boy Scouts of America introduced a 13th point, "A Scout is Human," to solidify the organization's stance on AI membership.
