Robert B. Powell

Robert B. Powell (http://masaokato.jp/2013/02/22/145729 (Masao Kato))

            Does anybody reading this know this quote? 

"Be Prepared... the meaning of the motto is that a scout must prepare himself by previous thinking out and practicing how to act on any accident or emergency so that he is never taken by surprise". It was said by Robert Baden Powell, a man who made Boy Scouting active for future soldiers. Many people in this world know what a Boy Scout is because a man made it a world known organization. His name is Robert Baden Powell. Most scouts do not know this person because there is no requirement that needs to know him. "Baden-Powell's mother planned he should attend Oxford University, then enter the army as a university candidate. In 1876 he failed the entrance examinations to Balliol College and Christ Church, Oxford, a fact which he later omitted from his autobiography. However, he succeeded in the army examinations, passing second into the cavalry and fifth into the infantry. Excused Sandhurst, because war with Russia seemed imminent and more officers were wanted, he was gazetted lieutenant in the 13th hussars, then stationed in Lucknow, on 11 September 1876" (Warren, Allen). Powell was not very academic so he could not pass entrance exam to schools that he wanted to go to, but he successfully passing the army examination. "After returning as a military hero from service in Africa, Baden-Powell discovered that English boys were reading the manual on stalking and survival in the wilderness he had written for British soldiers" (2014 BSA). Powell was a Lieutenant general in British army and he became a hero in military when he had a success for the siege of Mafeking during Second Boer War. But that made him into an army hero not a local hero. "However, he succeeded in the army examinations, passing second into the cavalry and fifth into the infantry. Excused Sandhurst, because war with Russia seemed imminent and more officers were wanted, he was gazetted lieutenant in the 13th hussars, then stationed in Lucknow, on 11 September 1876" (Warren, Allen). Robert B. Powell is a hero because he was very brave to make big organization and introduce it to the world and he cared about boys who wanted to be active for scouting.

Powell in scout uniform and gives scout sign (http://1stclaremont.org.za/our-history/the-founder (1st Claremont Scouts))

Two of the brave thing Powell did was making organization, Boy Scout and spreading the organization to the world. In this article, Allen Warren provides details about Powell making his own organization; Boy Scout. "Scout troops sprang up quickly around the country, some independently and others attached to existing organizations such as the Boys' Brigade and the YMCA. Early examples included those in Glasgow, Birkenhead, and Croydon. Possibly to his surprise, Baden-Powell found himself impelled to form his own organization, the Boy Scouts, during 1908" (Warren, Allen). This quote shows that Powell was very brave and formed his own organization Boy Scouts based on other organizations that has been helping people. Also this shows h that he is heroic because he was brave to make and introduce the organization he thought of and tells that how he was very concerning about boys. According to Tim Jeal, after Powell made his own organization, he made Boy Scout spread across the world. "In 1910 Baden-Powell resigned from the Army and became the chairperson of the Executing Committee of the scouting movement. This movement quickly spread to other countries. Baden-Powell traveled extensively to promote scouting, including trips to South America, Russia, Canada, and the West Indies" (Jeal, Tim). This quote shows that how Powell took his own organization's control, quickly spread scouting to the world, and he too traveled to promote scouting. It is also tells that he was brave for his organization and he traveled for it and quickly spread the organization for boys. Powell is brave because he established his own organization for boys and expanded the same organization to the world.

Powell was very caring about boys and he showed that by making books about scouting and taking them to scouting on an island. According to Allen Warren, Powell was very nice to boys and he made a book for boys about scouting. "Scouting for Boys was published in fortnightly parts in January 1908. Within each of its chapters (or camp fire yarns, as they were called) Baden-Powell brought together all his training ideals, placing them in an attractive camping and frontier-based environment. Linked to this were recommendations on how the individual scout might improve himself in the company of other scouts, so as to become a happier individual and better citizen" (Warren, Allen). It was not scouts that he cared; he also cared about people in community and nation and on scouting for boys, he put in what he believed that makes boys be better citizen. This shows how caring he was about boys and others who lived with these boys and people in their community by showing boys how to be citizen in community, nation, and world. In this article, Tim Jeal provides details about Powell taking 22 boys with him to campout on Brownsea Island to learn scouting skills. In the summer of 1907 Baden-Powell acted upon his ideas and ran a demonstration camp for boys on Brownsea Island off the coast of Dorset. Twenty-two boys, from ages 10 to 17, took part in the weeklong exercise, which consisted of camping, cooking, tracking, singing, and storytelling. This quote shows how much he cared about boys learning exercises and survival skills that may be needed when they become a real troop in army. This makes him a great role model, leader, and a hero because he teaches boys important skills that they will use for the rest of their lives. Powell was very caring boys and those around them. He showed that emotion and thought by writing books for boys and taking boys to campout on an island.

Powell with boys in scouting (http://www.wrightwoodcalif.com/forum/index.php?top (Graham Ranch))

Robert B. Powell is a hero because he was very brave and responsible for the organization he made and spread over the world and he cared about boys and people around them. Powell does deserve to be called as a hero because he was very brave to make a worldwide big organization and cared about boys in spirit of scouting. Powell inspires many boys in scouting because he lived being a perfect scout that lives with Scout Oath and Law. What inspires people the most is his spirit to make a world known organization. Unfortunately many people in most troops do not know of his existence so many scouts struggle when they are working on scouting heritage. Robert Baden Powell should be known as a hero and he deserves to be called as a hero because he did something that most people cannot do.

Works Cited

"Founders." Founders. Boy Scouts of America, 2014. Web. 02 May 2014. .

Warren, Allen. "Powell, Robert Stephenson Smyth Baden, First Baron Baden-Powell- 1857 - 1941." Oxford Dictionary Of National Biography (2010): 1. Biography Reference Center. Web. 2 May 2014.

"Robert Baden-Powell." Encyclopedia of World Biography. Vol. 21. Detroit: Gale, 2001. Student Resources in Context. Web. 2 May 2014.