So many Scoutmasters have found continuous friendly competition between the Patrols valuable, that it might be considered an essential feature of a successful Troop.

The only justification for the use of a recognition plan, however, is to stimulate and unify each Patrol through the recognition of Patrol achievements in which the boys work together for its glory, while advancing themselves in Scoutcraft and Scout Spirit.

Point System

The principle of a point system of recognition is that points are awarded to the Patrols on the basis of a predetermined scale, for such items as attendance, advancement, games and contests, and special features.

Dangers Of A Point System

There is always danger in any point system. The boys may begin to think of whatever they do in the Troop in terms of points. This, of course, should be guarded against. When the boys start to ask "How many points do we get for that?" it is time to embark upon another scheme.

Similarly, if one Patrol continuously runs off with the honors, the system should either be discontinued or modified to give all Patrols - even the young ones - an equal chance.

In any case, the duration of a point system should not be too long. If it is permitted to drag, the Patrols which fall behind are apt to feel themselves hopelessly outdistanced and become discouraged. The interest in such competitions should be renewed by finishing one and starting another. This may be done at the end of a definite length of time (two months, for example) or when one Patrol has earned a certain number of points (not too many). When the new contest is started, a rearrangement of the points and regulations may be desirable to give variety.

And always avoid making awards or giving points to individual Scouts.

How To Start A Point System

Since the success of any point system depends upon the whole-hearted acceptance of it by the Patrols it is obvious that the set-up must be discussed at a meeting of the Troop Leaders' Council. It may be advisable, in order to save time, to have, some schedule prepared ahead by a Junior Leader, but the Patrol Leaders should make the decisions and accept the scheme.

Working Out The Points

It should be kept constantly in mind that no one system of points would be equally well adapted to the needs of different Troops, but that each Troop should consider its own needs and its own program features in working out its schedule. The arrangement of points that appears on the following page is simply a sample to serve as a guide. It is not presented as a schedule to be adopted by Troops without modifications to meet their own peculiar needs.

The schedule decided upon may be along the following lines:

Attendance At Troop Activities Troop Meeting

Entire Patrol Present in correct Uniform----10 Points

(When less than 100% of the Patrol is present in Uniform, award a proportionate number of points. When a Scout who owns a Uniform is present but not in Uniform, count him as only 1/2-Scout present. When a Scout is absent but has reported, before the meeting opens, a satisfactory reason for his absence, count him as 1/2-Scout present.)

Troop Hike (same scale as above)..........20 Points

Attendance At Patrol Activities

Patrol Meeting-(It is not considered a Patrol Meeting unless at least 2/3 of the Scouts are present)

Entire Patrol present in Scout Uniform......10 Points

(Same rules as above) Patrol Hike (same scale as above)........... 20 Points

Dues

Paid in full on time........................ 5 Points

Advancement-Count advancement in rank only, not the meeting of the individual Requirements.

Second Class.............................. 10 Points

First Class............................... 15 Points

Each Merit Badge........................ 5 Points

Patrol Games and Special Competitions

Patrol placing first ...................5 or 10 Points

Patrol placing second ................ 3 or 6 Points

Patrol placing third ................. 1 or 3 Points

Special Features

For especially interesting features, periodically staged stunts at Troop meetings or on hikes, or outstanding. Patrol projects, the Scoutmaster may award at his discretion........up to 10 Points

The above schedule may be modified in many ways, but the fundamentals remain the same. As a rule, the simpler the system the better.

A different schedule may be based upon the "point-for-everyone" principle. If there are four Patrols in a Troop, they receive respectively four, three, two or one point, according to their ranking in each subject of competition. Attendance, advancement, success in games and contests, neatness on inspection, good discipline during meetings-all these activities are judged by the Scoutmaster on a Patrol basis and points are awarded.

Experience has definitely shown that it is unwise to include any demerits or penalties in a point contest of this kind. It is agreed that a positive stimulus is much better than a negative threat or punishment.

Visual Progress Charts

Any number of methods of recording Patrol progress present themselves. The important point is that the method be visual, so that the record may be constantly before the boys.

The following methods have proved successful: Climbing the Ladder.-Four ladders, one for each Patrol, are painted on a large piece of cardboard which hangs on the wall of the Troop meeting room. On each ladder is placed a little pasteboard Scout, representing the Scouts of that Patrol. Each rung counts ten points. The relative height of each pasteboard Scout on the ladder will indicate the relative progress of that Patrol toward the Troop's standard as represented by the top of the ladder. This is a constant source of interest not only to the Scouts, but also to visitors. Or change the ladder into Mount Everest, or the Washington Monument. Or turn the pasteboard Scout into a stratosphere balloon, or an elevator "going up."

The Canoe Race.-A similar idea, and possibly better, is to have a frieze painted at the top of the meeting room's wall. The frieze should picture a river, with a tree, a boulder, a shrub, etc., painted on the bank at regular intervals. Each landmark represents 10 points, and each Patrol is represented by a pasteboard canoe filled with Scouts, corresponding to the number in the Patrol, who are paddling toward the goal. Or make it airplanes on a trans-Atlantic hop, or automobiles on a racetrack, or pirate ships on the way to Treasure Island.

A practical and Scout-like recognition plan is to let each Patrol have a small wooden board on which there are eight or ten spaces blocked out. The Troop provides small wooden or leather emblems indicative of proficiency in various kinds of Scout enterprises including attendance, Uniform, hiking, first aid and other subjects. Every Patrol that meets a standard in any one of these things is permitted to display on its Patrol board one of the emblems showing that in a particular week or month the Patrol has met the Troop's standard in that particular activity.

The blackboard system is still another practical method. This requires that a blackboard be in the meeting room, on which the Patrols' records are kept. When a Patrol earns some points toward its goal, they are recorded then and there. The Scouts are stimulated greatly when they can see the results of their efforts recorded immediately.

Trophies

There may be some outward, visible trophy of achievement for recognition of Patrols that reach the

To see this orderly, well arranged equipment surely suggests putting it to use. A constant suggestion to hike and camp.

"top of the ladder" or the "end of the river"-in other words, the established Troop standard. Let it be something simple, like a streamer with an inscription in indelible ink for the Patrol flag staff, or a leather skin stretched on a rustic wooden frame, with the names of the Patrol members and details of the competition burnt in.

Expensive prizes should never be used. There is a great danger in silver cups and shields, for they may encourage the mere winning of a prize rather than the gaining of an honor for the Patrol.

As recognition, a Patrol may be given the privilege of carrying the Troop colors.

When pride in one's own group becomes a growing egotism and ceases to recognize the rights of others, then competition defeats its own end. In all Patrol recognition the spirit of fair play must be constantly kept in the foreground. Winning must never become more important than the fun of playing the game. The Scoutmaster can skillfully avoid the development of conceit and jealousy by organizing Patrol recognition plans so that no one Patrol has a monopoly of the glory, and each group has some worthwhile achievement of which to be proud.