The method of instruction in Scouting is that of creating in the boy the desire to learn for himself.
Erudition - that is, reading, writing, and arithmetic - is taught in the schools; but where is the more important quality, character, taught? Nowhere in particular. There is no authorized training for children in character.
Interpretation
What this quote means
The quote emphasizes that while academic subjects are taught in schools, character development is often neglected.
Robert Baden-Powell highlights a significant gap in education systems, where traditional subjects such as reading, writing, and arithmetic take precedence over essential qualities like character. He argues that character education is not formally addressed, suggesting that instilling values, ethics, and character in children is just as important, if not more so, than academic knowledge. This raises a crucial point about the holistic development of individuals and the responsibility of educators and society in nurturing moral character.
Themes
In practice
Example use cases
During a speech on education reform, this quote can be used to highlight the need for character education.
More from Robert Baden-Powell
All quotes →The more responsibility the Scoutmaster gives his patrol leaders, the more they will respond.
Try and leave this world a little better than you found it, and when your turn comes to die, you can die happy in feeling that at any rate, you have not wasted your time but have done your best.
Success in training the boy depends largely on the Scoutmaster's own personal example.
Football is a grand game for developing a lad physically and also morally, for he learns to play with good temper and unselfishness, to play in his place, and to play the game, and these are the best of training for any game of life.
Life would pall if it were all sugar; salt is bitter if taken by itself; but when tasted as part of the dish, it savours the meat. Difficulties are the salt of life.
Similar quotes
Once you have learned to trust your own voice and allowed that creative force inside you to come out, you can direct it to write short stories, novels, and poetry, do revisions, and so on. You have the basic tool to fulfill your writing dreams. But beware. This type of writing will uncover other dreams you have, too-going to Tibet, being the first woman president of the United States, building a solar studio in New Mexico-and they will be in black and white. It will be harder to avoid them.
We have a large public that is very ignorant about public affairs and very susceptible to simplistic slogans by candidates who appear out of nowhere, have no track record, but mouth appealing slogans
Some are bewildered in the maze of schools, And some made coxcombs nature meant but fools.
Syntax, my lad. It has been restored to the highest place in the republic.
If you are in difficulties with a book, try the element of surprise: attack it at an hour when it isn't expecting it.
If you can read in the 21st century you own the world.