One Oath (And Law) To Rule Them All
The BSA’s Executive Board has approved a resolution to use the Scout Oath and Law in the not only the Boy Scout program, but also in the Cub Scout and Venturing programs.
That means the Cub Scout Promise will be retired and replaced with the Scout Oath and Law, however, the current Cub Scout motto, sign, salute and handshake will remain the same.
Also, the Venturing Oath, Code, sign and salute will each be retired and replaced with the Scout Oath, Scout Law, Scout sign and Scout salute.
Transitions like this take time, so the changes are not immediate. Venturers should start using the Scout material beginning in 2014. Cub Scouts won’t start until 2015.
My big question is WHEN can we start implementing this. We have School Night for Scouting coming up. Should we be having the Cub Scout learn the Cub Scout Oath and Law in order to earn Bobcat and then in a few short months (when 2015 begins) suddenly require the Boy Scout Oath and Law? Can we change the Bobcat requirements right now?
No reason for this change. If it isn’t broken don’t fix it. The Boy Scout Oath and Law is something for Cubs to aspire to after they have mastered their own.
Leave it alone.
I am all for this. The boys are perfectly capable of learning the words ad,just like with the current core values of cub scouting, it is the responsibility of the parents and the leaders to explain the meaning through character connections. If everyone will ‘do our best’ the transition will be seamless.
This will make it easier on everyone. The Cubs struggle to get their oath and law down pat and before they know it they have to start learning a new oath and law. This will also make many an opening faster and simple. With unity we have strength. I’m sure that it will be transition that will be felt as if a tradition is being lost but we must remember to keep our scouting fresh so that we can grow.
This change tells me the BSA’s Executive Board is out of touch with the realities of CUB Scouting. When is the last time they spent a day with a group of wiggly first grade boys? Those little guys don’t know what half the words in the Boy Scout law even mean. Furthermore, six-year old boys aren’t supposed to be clean, at least not all the time. 😉
We in our Pack support this fully! Our boys can’t wait to get to the boys scouts and this makes them feel more connected. I just want to say to those that think Tigers can’t understand what it means, remember we have them say the Pledge of Allegiance and you can’t tell me a Tiger can tell you what all of those words mean.
I like the idea.. It shows continuity.. But it’s easier to attain the rank of scout then?
The Boy Scout Oath & Law will be to hard for most Cubs to learn. I see them having a tough time learning their Promise & Law of the Pack now. Their promise is a shorter version of the Boy Scout Oath for a reason, “TRANSITION”. Their law is shorter because the Boy Scout Law is tough for Webelos & new Boy Scouts to learn. Cub Scouting is about fun not a headache. I am only one voice but “Don’t make the change”!
For those who say the Cub Scouts can’t learn something so complicated, please remember that most kindergardeners learn to recite the Pledge of Allegiance.
One good idea. The Girl Scouts have taken similar action of having one oath and law for all ages.