By reviewing the name of the Baden-Powell Award, Scouts Australia is grappling with its colonial past
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Wednesday, November 8, 2023
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Scouts Australia is considering changing the name of its most prestigious youth award, the Baden-Powell Scout Award.
Key Points:
- Scouts Australia is considering changing the name of its most prestigious youth award, the Baden-Powell Scout Award.
- For others, his role in creating the largest youth movement in history is overshadowed by allegations of colonial war crimes.
Adapting to changing social values
- Baden-Powell’s handbook, Scouting for Boys, is the fourth best-selling book of the 20th century.
- Baden-Powell’s Scouting philosophy emphasised social responsibility and outdoor skills.
- Scouting has endured for over a century, in part because of its willingness to adapt to changing social values.
But back to Baden-Powell
- In 2020, amid Black Lives Matter demonstrations, a statue of Baden-Powell in England appeared on a “Topple the Racists” hit list.
- Yet, the statue was defended by local Scouts, and a petition against its removal received over 40,500 signatures.
- Before Scouts, Baden-Powell was already a hero of the British Empire for his efforts during the South African War.
- Globally, Scouts has recognised this, with the Chief Scout of the UK, Bear Grylls, admitting Baden-Powell’s “failings”.
An extended process of public reckoning
- The case to replace obviously racist place names can be uncontroversial, provided consultation takes place with Traditional Owners.
- In recent years, Queensland has revoked certain racist place names, while Tasmania has renamed several places that previously commemorated colonial violence.
- Even Macquarie University is facing calls to recognise his ambiguous legacy, rather than promoting him.
- This is likely to be the start of an extended process of public reckoning.
- This may extend from relatively unknown statues, or place names, to big businesses and institutions with connections to questionable legacies.
Ciara Smart receives funding from the University of Tasmania.