British Preparatory Schools Activities: Youth Groups
Figure 1.--These are girl guides at a prep school. Note that they are not wearing badges. I think they may me pursuing the Guide prgram without actually formally joining them. Notice that Brownie-age girls are wearing the Guide uniform.
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Youth groups primarily Cubs in the prep schools and Scouts in the public (private secondary) schools were once a major activuties for the boys. Girls schools had Brownirs and Guides. This tradition has declined in the schools in recent years. That is not to bsay that quite a number of schools do not have Cub Packs abnd iother units. Somne do, but they are not nearly as common as they once were. We are not entirely sure just why this has occurred. We think to aarge extent it mirrors a compsrable trend in Brirish society. Children now have many more options for after school activities. Thus youh groups are not as popular as they once were. Another problem is beaureacracy. There is now a lot of paperwork and administrative time necessary to orh\ganiza and maintain Cub Packs nd other units. A number of headmastes we spoke with mentioned this problem. Some schools have made the effort to comply. Other schools as an alternstive have organized a program in volving camping and outdoor activities without any formal attachment to the British Scouting association.
