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The
Boy Scout Handbook expressed dismay over the changes that had
taken place in the lives of young peoples, especially the lives
of boys.
Every
American boy, a hundred years ago, lived either on a farm or in
such close touch with farm life that he reaped its benefits. He
had all the practical knowledge that comes from country surroundings;
that is, he could ride, shoot, skate, run, swim; he was handy
with tools; he knew the woods; he was physically strong, self-reliant,
resourceful, well-developed in body and brain. In addition to
which, he had a good moral training at home. He was respectful
to his superiors, obedient to his parents, and altogether the
best material of which a nation could be made.
We
have lived to see an unfortunate change....It is the exception
when we see a boy respectful to his superiors and obedient to
his parents. It is the rare exception, now, when we see a boy
that is handy with tools and capable of taking care of himself
under all circumstances. It is the very, very rare exception when
we see a boy whose life is absolutely governed by the safe old
moral standards....Degeneracy is the word. To combat the system
that has turned such a large proportion of our robust, manly,
self-reliant boyhood into a lot of flat-chested cigarette-smokers,
with shaky nerves and doubtful vitality...[we need to substitute]
the better, cleaner, saner pursuits of woodcraft and scouting.
Boy
Scout Handbook, 1910
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