Allan Turner has a nice piece in today’s Chronicle about a struggling Boy Scout troop in the Third Ward:
Since November, Jellins, 51, a businessman-engineer who negotiates multimillion-dollar construction contracts for Exxon Mobil, has struggled to revive the decades-old black troop that had lost its momentum and was on the brink of losing its charter.
With the church’s support, advice from an array of veteran troop leaders and the help of friends and parents who signed on as assistants, Jellins now has about 10 boys in the troop. In weekly meetings they learn about snakes and electricity, aviation and first aid, photography and the more creative aspects of outdoor cuisine.
Such lessons likely hold value for all Scouts, but in sometimes turbulent black communities, they can serve as an anchor to help buffeted teens achieve.
One minor beef, though:
“They’re taught to be trustworthy, loyal, friendly, obedient, cheerful, thrifty, brave, clean and reverent, even when they don’t feel like it,” Jellins said.
Since a Scoutmaster presumably knows the Scout Law, it looks like the Chron reporter goofed on the quote. It’s really: “Trustworthy, loyal, helpful, friendly, courteous, kind, obedient, cheerful, thrifty, brave, clean and reverent.”
Regardless, it’s a nice story about an institution that’s invaluable in shaping the characters of young men. Kudos, Chron, from this former Scout.
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My guess is that this was a misquote as opposed to Jellins getting it wrong. The Scout Law is drilled into scouts heads. I can still recite it to this day, more than 15 years after my last scouting event.
Being brave is very important, especially in the third ward. The troop could have a new slogan. “Join the Scouts instead of a gang”! Wouldn’t that be something to behold!
It’s a lot better than “Thugs on drugs - be one!”
A former Cub Scout and Boy scout wishes them the utmost success!
/When I turned 16, I became very interested in the “girl scouts!”
No such thing as a former Scout!
Turner does a lot of Chron Eyes. It’s good to know he can put those skills to work on worthy subjects sometimes, and not just cold blooded killers.
Until some liberal idiot tries to close it down because of the gay issue or some such rot.
Go Scouts! And God bless this scout leader!
If we had more scouts; this would be a better place. It is the greatest organization on the planet!