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September Cub Scout Roundtable Issue |
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Volume 7, Issue 1 |
Pockets (Webelos Communicator & Citizen) |
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September Cub Scout Roundtable Issue |
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Volume 7, Issue 1 |
Pockets (Webelos Communicator & Citizen) |
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WEBELOS Citizen Ideas for Den Meetings
Citizenship Pledge "As citizens of the world, we will do our best to be prepared in body and will, in spirit and skill. We accept our obligation to God and will show by our actions we're willing to serve others and be good members of the Scouting team. Citizenship Through Service One way to make this activity badge come alive is to get involved. A good citizen gets involved where he lives. Your involvement can start at any age and it can be almost any useful act. Now is a good time to plan a citizenship project for your Webelos den. Here are some ideas: Clean up a park with the whole gang, or clean up the grounds of your sponsor's building, or a roadside. Collect waste material for recycling. Provide a party or recreational equipment for a children's home. Enter your den in a parade at the end and bring recycling bins to pick up the bottles and cans. There are hundreds of ways that your Webelos den can become involved in a community service project. The boys will have some good ideas of their own. Be sure that the project is well planned and thought out before you begin. Then share with the boys that warm feeling of citizenship of service. U.S. Pledge of Allegiance The Pledge of Allegiance first appeared in the September 8, 1892, issue of "Youth's Companion." Its authorship was disputed between James B. Upham, an editor with the magazine, and Francis Bellamy, a Baptist minister from Rome, New York, who was also on the staff. In 1939, a committee of the U.S. Flag Association ruled that Bellamy was the author. The words "The Flag of the United States of America" were substituted for "my flag" in 1923, and the phrase "under God" was added in 1954, upon passage of a joint House-Senate resolution. According to the Encyclopedia Americana, "Use of the pledge quickly spread throughout the public school systems of the country. Many states made it obligatory part of the daily school ritual. When children of certain religious minorities refused, on religious grounds, to swear allegiance to a material object, they were expelled from school." The U.S. Supreme Court initially ruled that states were justified in requiring the pledge, but it reversed that decision in 1943, in the case of the West Virginia State Board of Education v. Barnette. Your Rights as a Citizen The following is a partial list of some of the qualities of a citizen and some of the right and duties of a citizen. The right to equal protection under the law and equal justice in court. The right of religious freedom. Your Duties as a Citizen If you are going to have rights as a citizen and you want to keep them, then you also have certain duties that you must take care of. Your duties as a citizen are: Obey the laws. Respect the rights of others. Keep informed on issues of National and local government. To vote in elections. To serve and defend your country. To assist the agencies of law enforcement. To practice and teach good citizenship in our home. Den Activities Discuss requirement of Badge with boys. Decide on a good turn for the school, church or community and plan how to carry it out. Perhaps the den will want to involve the whole pack in their good turn, so that all the boys will be included in the excitement and regarding feeling of doing something for others. Make log books for boys to record their work on the badge. Plan a special good turn for the next pack meeting, such as setting up chairs, ushering, cleanup etc. Visit a local city government agency. Find out how it works, what services it provides, how it affects you and your family. A campaign against litter is a "must" for good citizenship. Discuss how your den can carry on such a campaign and do it. This could include making posters for display, litter clean up, making litterbags, a fight against pollution, and collecting items for recycling. Discuss the various organizations in the community, which help people. How are they financed and run? Do they use volunteer help? Attend a naturalization ceremony. Observe the voting process. Visit a city council meeting or school board meeting. Remind people to fly the flag. Invite a new citizen to speak to your den on what becoming an American citizen means to him Visit a court. Ask the judge to speak to the boys about citizenship. Acquaint boys with the court procedure. Visit police and/or fire department. Learn more about our community from the Chamber of Commerce. Discuss difference between the rights and duties of a citizen. Know Your Community As a project your den might like to check out the following list to see which of the things listed can be found in their community who operates them and how they are paid for. Health -- hospitals, clinical doctors, dentist, ambulance service, water filtration plant, sewage disposals garbage collection Protection -- storm sewers, fire and police protection Recreation -- theaters, pools, park playgrounds, golf courses, lakes Education -- public schools, high schools, colleges, night schools, vocational schools, libraries Transportation -- roads, highways, bus terminals, train stations, airports, parking lots, garages, service stations, car lots Stores -- shopping centers, supermarkets, corner stores, appliance stores, markets Business -- what major companies are there in your community Industrial -- what items are manufactured Agriculture -- what products are produced locally Voluntary Agencies -- what agencies are there: What do they do in the community? Organizations and Clubs -- service? Fraternal? Hobby Religion -- churches, synagogues, temples, halls, seminaries A Good Citizen Knows A 1. If you meet the President, you call him: 2. The President and his family live in: 3. The first President to live in the White House was: 4. We celebrate birthdays of two Presidents in February, they are 5. During the War of 1812, when Madison was President, this famous song was written: 6. Twenty-seven Presidents have studied: 7. The two big political parties today are: 8. The U.S. National Anthem was written by: 9. The law says Presidential elections must be held on: B 1. We hold presidential elections every: 2. The United States is made up of: 3. The parties pick their Presidential candidates in: 4. If a president dies in office, the next president is: 5. If you want to run for President, you should: 6. The only man to be elected four times was: 7. The President's wife is called: 9. When the flag is properly folded, the U.S. Flag should be shaped like: Patriotic Wall Plaque Using a copy of the Declaration of Independence, Bill of Rights or the Gettysburg Address make a wall plaque by mounting one of these on 1/48 plywood shaped into the design of a scroll. Make your scroll slightly larger than your copy. Finish plywood by sanding, staining a natural color and varnishing -- or leave the wood grain and color show through by eliminating stain and just finishing with varnish. |
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