Are Scouting Values Corny?

As I think of Gerald Smith's 55 years as a Scoutmaster and the 2,700 boys who have been members of Troop 11 during those years, I am reminded that what our program does for each boy, it does for the man he will become.  There are many fine men who look back to Mr. Smith as a major influence in their lives.  There are many community leaders and some real heroes among those 2,700 boys.  Gerald can tell you of the accomplishments of almost all of them.  I thought of leaders like Mr. Smith,  Mr. Greenlee (my Scoutmaster) and Mrs. Ellis (my Den Leader) this past Spring.

Remember on  May 21, 1998 when we were all stunned?  It was near the end of school, when a number of Springfield, Oregon students gathered in the high school cafeteria prior to class.  On his 17th birthday, Jacob Ryker was sitting with friends finishing his homework.  Without warning, Kip Kinkel entered the crowded cafeteria and opened fire with a semiautomatic rifle, killing two students and wounding 22 others.  Jacob's first reaction was to protect his girlfriend.  He pushed her down to protect her, but was shot through the right lung.  Despite those efforts Jacobs girlfriend was also shot. 

Almost immediately and despite his serious wound, Jacob started to pursue the gunman but fell.  When he looked up, he saw Kinkel's gun pointing at his friends face. He heard the gun click with an empty clip.  Jacob jumped to his feet and closed the distance between him and the teenage gunman and he tackled Kinkel before he could reload.  Upon reaching the shooter, Jacob thought that Kinkel was going for a knife, but instead he found himself looking at a 9mm pistol.  As Jacob struggled to take the pistol, it discharged and shot Jacob through the finger.  Other students immediately joined Jacob in subduing Kinkel.  Among those students were three Scouts and an Explorer:  Jacobs brother, Joshua; Douglas and David Ure; and Adam Walburger.

When I heard that story I thought of all the Cub Scout meetings where our members promise to do their best. . . all those Scout meetings where they learn the Scout Oath and Law with concepts like trustworthy, loyal and brave.  Our leaders teach each member the motto, Be Prepared.   From the very beginning, we teach our members to do their best  -- not to be the best, but to do their best.  Thats what Jacob and his friends did and they saved lives.  

Did you know that Jacob is a Life Scout soon to be an Eagle.  I am so proud of Jacob and his friends.  I am equally proud of all of you who volunteer to teach such important concepts to our youth.  There are Jacobs in every one of our youth.  But, the values we saw displayed this Spring do not come naturally.  They are learned.  

Why did Jacob do what he did?  I believe that its because he had promised to help other people at all times hundreds of times at all those Scout meetings.  He had described himself as loyal and trustworthy and brave.  He was physically, mentally and morally prepared!  I pray none of our youth will ever be tested in this way.  But, I believe that because of  leaders like you, they are prepared.

Thank God for those who organized Jacobs  Troop and for those who recruited him.  Thank God for all those leaders who helped him to be prepared.  Think of  all the values teachers in his life. . .  Are Scouting's values Corny?  What do you think?

Thank you for all you have done, for what your doing and for all your going to do.  Scouting does make a real difference.

John O. Thurston

September, 1998