“The boy is not governed by don’t, but is led by do.”

“In Scouting, a boy is encouraged to educate himself instead of being instructed.”

“There is no teaching to compare with example.”

Every now and then we hear a Scout use the word can’t: “I can’t hike 15 miles” or “I can’t tie that knot”, etc. It’s at that point I’ll stop the meeting and ask the
Scouts to give the Scout sign and repeat after me, “On my honor I will do my best!” Then I step up to our chalkboard, write out the word “can’t” in big letters, and ask the boys if that word appears anywhere in the Scout Oath or Law. At that point, I erase the “t” and explain to the Scouts that their trail to the Eagle rank will be much easier if they start telling themselves they can do it instead of using that other word. Before I walk away from the chalkboard, I write a big “I” in front of the can and leave it there until the next meeting. The first thing they see the next time they walk in is the words “I can!”

“Be Prepared… the meaning of the motto is that a scout must prepare himself by previous thinking out and practicing how to act on any accident or emergency so that he is never taken by surprise.”