A Boy Scout is trustworthy, loyal, helpful, friendly, courteous, kind, obedient, cheerful, thrifty, brave, clean and reverent.
For 100 years, boys have been repeating these words, with the idea that they will live by them as youths and as adults.
For a century, the Boy Scouts of America has shaped the minds, bodies and characters of young men. In today’s edition of The Valdosta Daily Times, readers will find a special section celebrating a century of Scouting.
From Cub Scouts to Webelos (we be loyal Scouts) to Boy Scouts, Scouting can direct youths from their elementary-school years through their 18th birthdays, even further with Scouting’s Explorer program.
Boy Scouts rise in rank of Scout, Tenderfoot, Second Class, First Class, Star, Life and Eagle. They rise in rank as they accomplish both personal achievements and serve in leadership roles.
They earn merit badges to master the arts of tying knots, camping, first aid, as well as gain knowledge of how to be better citizens in their communities, nation and world.
Scouting aims to help boys develop a confidence in their abilities, to become more self-reliant, whether they are on their own or leading a patrol. Scouting provides an opportunity for boys to develop into men of character, men of strength, men of awareness.
Each time a group of Boy Scouts meet, they make this promise. They recite this oath: “On my honor, I will do my best/To do my duty to God and my country and to obey the Scout Law;/To help other people at all times;/To keep myself physically strong, mentally awake and morally straight.”
They are words which Boy Scouts have lived by for the past century. In saluting our region’s Boy Scouts, we hope young men will continue living by such a credo in the centuries to come.
What We Think
What We Think: 100 years of service
- What We Think
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Leaving NCLB behind
Georgia schools may be sighing in relief today, following the announcement that the U.S. Department of Education granted a waiver to the state, along with nine others, from the rigorous requirements of the No Child Left Behind act.
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Don’t jettison landmark
While we respect the request to relocate the F-86 aircraft from outside Mathis City Auditorium to the new Moody Air Force Base Airpark, we would hope the city and MAFB would reconsider moving it.
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Shame in Berrien County
Unfortunately for Sherrie Williams of the Berrien County school-based health clinic, she talked to The Times and praised the program that she oversees. This pride in her work led to the loss of her job.
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Grading policy: A second chance?
In clarifying the Lowndes County Schools’ controversial grading policy, Superintendent Dr. Steve Smith spoke of second chances.
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Be up to any weather challenge
Georgia’s Severe Weather Awareness Week starts today and runs through Friday. The idea behind the week is to prepare Georgians for weather emergencies and how to keep these situations from becoming tragedies.
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Parents and schools
There is a lot of talk lately about school systems and grading policies, and how all of a child's problems come back to a lack of parenting. But is it really that simple? Can it be a case where the school systems are so focused on the problem few that the majority of students are ignored?
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Thumbs up, thumbs down
THUMBS UP: To Brooks County High School engineering and technology teacher Don Morgan and his students. They recently received national attention for their work with biodiesel fuel. They collect used cooking oil from area fast-food restaurants then process this oil into biodiesel. Morgan hopes to next interest the Brooks County school buses into running on the fuel created in his class. This classroom not only prepares students for the future but may prepare all of us for an alternative energy source.
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Take me out to the ball park
The Valdosta State baseball season begins today. The Blazers host Lindenwood at 2:30 p.m. Nothing beats quality baseball played in warm weather with a great venue like Billy Grant Field.
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What We Think: Signing Day
Wednesday was National Signing Day, the day when high school athletes across the country make official announcements about what school they’ve chosen to sign with.
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School policy fails expectations
Lowndes County Schools recently implemented new grading guidelines for students. These guidelines have left many parents upset ...
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Leaving NCLB behind
