Cub Scouts (Singapore Scout Association)
The Cub Scouts are part of the Singapore Scout Association (SSA). They were earlierly known as "Wolf Cubs" in the pre-1966 era when Singapore Scouting was still under the jurisdiction of the Scout Association, UK (then known as the Imperial Headquarters).
Since the early days, little attention was paid to Cubbing. The first Wolf Cub Pack in Singapore was started in Outram Road School in 1925 with a single Wolf Cub Patrol led by one Mrs H.F. Duncanson of the 9th Singapore Troop. When the Japanese Scout Troop was formed later that year, a Wolf Cub Section was included in their infrastructure. In 1927, the 3rd Singapore Troop, an offshoot of the huge 4th Singapore (SJI) Troop, was dissolved and converted into a full-fledged Wolf Cub Pack within the 4th Troop's Structure. The 3rd Troop's name was subsequently assigned to the Oldham Hall Troop formed in 1928.[1]
The Wolf Cub Section however began some time back, on 1 Jan 1914 at St Stephen's Westminster in Great Britain. Over the years, Wolf Cub Packs had begun to sprout up across the British Empire and by 1935, there were over 15,000 Packs with 275,000 Wolf Cubs and 22,000 Cubmasters. In November 1935, 10 years after the Wolf Cub Section was started in Singapore, 150 Wolf Cubs and 25 Officers made the Grand Wolf Cub's Rally and Campfire on the old race course in Singapore in a splendid celebration of the twenty-first anniversary of the Wolf Cub Section in the world. By that time, there were 13 Wolf Cub Packs in Singapore.
The Wolf Cub's Rally was led by Singapore District Scoutmaster Crickett and was lent a special note by the attendance of Fleet Scoutmaster Lawder, the Scout Commissioner for Malaya, Mr Frank Cooper Sands, the Assistant Commissioner for Malaya, Mr H.R. Cheeseman, the Chief Commissioner for Singapore Mr Cullen and the Assistant Chief Commissioner for Singapore, Rev. R. K. S. Adams.
The rally opened with the Grand Howl, the greeting of Welcome to Akela the Old Wolf, Lord Baden Powell; followed by a succession of enjoyable circle games, with each circle playing several games; jungle dances revealing a “play way” based on the romance of Rudyard Kipling's “Jungle Books”, the staging of the story of Mowgli, a play “Who stole the Jam?” by the 31st Pack, competitions and games with relay races (signaling, skipping and book balancing, ball catching and knots), the rallying to the “Birthday Feast” of the Cubs and finally concluding with the big Campfire.[2]
The term "Cadet Scouts" was adopted when the first "Policy, Organisation and Rules" of (SSA) was promulgated in 1969, after following the changes introduced by the "1966 Advance Party Report (APR)" of the UK Scout Association. The name was changed again to "Cub Scouts" in 2005 to better reflect international usage.
The UK term "Cub Scouts" as proposed in the APR was however not adopted in 1969 although the entire progress badge scheme and proficiency badge scheme were embraced with minor amendments to the names. Progress badges were called the "Standards" instead of "Arrows", i.e. the Bronze Standard, Silver Standard and Gold Standard. The "link badge" was known as the "District Commissioner's Award", serving as the highest award for the Cadet Scout category. After 2000, the term "Standards" were again revised to "Arrows" and "Cub Scout" name has replaced that of "Cadet Scout". In 2005, the Singapore Scout Association has updated the Cub Scout Training Scheme, revising the syllabus and giving a new look to the designs of the progress badges. While the "Arrows" are retained, the top progress award is now known as the Akela Award (a wolf's head on a green background), replacing the "link badge" design of the UK.
Cub Scouts in Singapore follow a common Scout Promise and Law unlike the Wolf Cub era when they have a separate set of Cub Promise and Law. Cub Scouts are grouped in "Sixes" distinguished by coloured Turk's head woggles, where they are led by a "Sixer" and an "Assistant Sixer". If the situation calls for it, a "Senior Sixer" would also be appointed. The Cub Scout Leader leads the Cub Scout Unit (or "Pack") with the help of Assistant Cub Scout Leaders and the "Sixers' Council" composed of all the Sixers. At the Headquarters, National Cub Scout Commissioner presides over the Cub Scout Roundtable which oversee training and policy matters related to Cub Scouting.
The uniform of Cub Scouts in Singapore consists of a luminous-green jersey shirt, dark-green shorts, regulation national scarf/group scarf, Six woggle, regulation leather belt, olive-green socks, black shoes and the headdress. Notably, the headdress is the cap version (green with yellow-pipings) used since the inception of Wolf Cubs in the early 1910s. Prior to 1990, the uniform of Singapore's Cadet Scouts is khaki in colour, which was adopted in 1964.
The latest change to this section of Singapore Scouting was unveiled during the National Youth Programme Symposium held in July 2005 by the Singapore Scout Association, where the new name, "Cub Scout", was adopted together with the changes in the training scheme. Since that year minor amendments have been made to the way the top award was assessed.
Section Leadership
The section is overseen by the Cub Scout Executive Committee (CubSEC) which is led by the National Cub Scout Commissioner.
The team is made up largely of teachers who are also experienced Cub Scout Leaders from various schools.
Symbolic Framework
Wolf Cubs – youth under the age of twelve years of age who are being taught the first steps in discipline and good citizenship... the system is one of individual training and the numbers in a pack should not exceed 24.
There is a mistaken idea that Cubbing is, broadly speaking, junior Scouting. Although the principles underlying the Cub system are the same, the application varies to suit different ages. A Cub is never older than 12 years and the whole scheme of training is based on the romantic stories in Rudyard Kipling's immortal Jungle Books.
The atmosphere in which a Cub is trained is that of Mowgli, the Indian boy who was reared by wolves in the jungle – not a fairy tale for there are known cases in India of children having been cared for by these animals.
Mowgli was a small Indian boy who ran off into the jungle to hide from a tiger who had attacked his father's house. In the bushes of the jungle he met a grey wolf, a brave and kindly animal who picked him up gently in his mouth and carried him into his cave where he was taken care of by mother wolf.
The boy remained with the wolves and grew up as one of the family. He was taught the tricks of the jungle. Baloo the wise old brown bear taught him the law of the jungle while Bagheera the black panther taught him how to hunt and eventually become the best hunter in the jungle.
Mowgli became a member of the Seeonee Pack of wolves and he was taken to the council meeting of the wolves held at a great rock. Akela the old wolf, stood on this rock while the pack sat in a circle around it.
When Akela took his place on the rock, the wolves threw up their heads and howled their welcome.
Like Mowgli so is a wolf Cub tutored. He is given “bites” of everything important. As soon as he is admitted into a pack, the Cub is taught the principles of life. The method adopted is to educate him from within rather than to instruct him from without. He is educated mentally, morally and physically, or as the “Chief Old Wolf”, so aptly puts it, “to enthuse in the right direction.”
Two of the greatest inspirations of Baden Powell were the law and promise for the Cubs and the Grand Howl. On his investiture, a Cub makes a simple promise – he promises to do his best to do his duty to God and the Country, to keep the law of the Wolf Cub Pack and to do a good turn every day.
The Law he is taught also profoundly simple – the Cub gives in to the Old Wolf but he does not give in to himself. This obedience and self-discipline are inculcated. This Law appeals to the mind of a young boy. There are no imperatives.
The Grand Howl is a thing which stands by itself. “It gives expression to all kinds of queer emotions,” as a Cubmaster once put it, “loyalty to Akela the, Old Wolf, the sheer joy of being alive, thankfulness for Cubhood. Sorrow at the parting of trails.”
By games and romance young boys are kept usefully occupied, and their characters moulded so that they may later take their place as Scouts, having been introduced to and taught the spirit of the movement with its Law and Promise. Cub training is therefore not an end in itself. Success is often unseen but the reward comes later when a jolly little Cub is seen to have developed into a splendid Scout.[3]
SSA Promises
The Scout Promise
On my Honour I promise that I will do my best-
To do my duty to God and to the Republic of Singapore
To help other people and
To keep the Scout Law.
The Scout Law
A Scout is to be trusted.
A Scout is loyal.
A Scout makes friends, establishes and maintains harmonious relations.
A Scout is disciplined and considerate.
A Scout has courage in all difficulties.
Mission statement
"Our movement develops youth for purposeful and responsible adulthood, always prepared to serve God, country and humanity."
External links
References
- Kevin Y.L. Tan and Wan Meng Hao. Scouting in Singapore.
- "Wolf' Cubs Rally". The Singapore Free Press and Mercantile Advertiser (1884-1942), Pg 10. 18 November 1935.
- "Wolf Cub Packs in Malaya". The Straits Times, Pg 6. 28 April 1935.