Education in love in place of fear

Re-edition of the report presented to the 3rd International Congress of Moral Education Geneva, 1st of August 1922

To celebrate Founder's Day, we suggest that you read the following text and share it amongst your friends or in your Scout group. It will most certainly inspire you.

On 31 July 1922, Robert Baden-Powell left Paris for Geneva, where he took part in the World Organization of the Scout Movement’s inaugural conference, and where he was the keynote speaker at the 3rd International Congress on Moral Education.

Within the space of a few days, these two events enabled Baden-Powell to clearly set out his vision of Scouting following the ordeal of World War I. Distraught by the effects of war, the Founder entered a new phase of his life, focusing on Peace and Peace Education.

In all, Baden-Powell's life can be seen in three phases: a period of exploring the world, which lasted from his childhood until his return from the Boer War (1857–1901); a foundation period, involving observing the social ills of British society and experimenting with the concept of Scouting (1902–1920); and finally a mission period, which lasted from after the War until his death. Enthralled with universalism, as a result of having seen the Scout Movement spread to numerous countries, B-P dreamed of making it the League of Nations’ (which is the matrix of the current United Nations Organization) official youth movement.