Piddingworth Greg Benton |
| Culture: More than an artifact. Whilst doing a little research into Canada's history and surfing the web, I came across the enormous civilization.ca site and stumbled across a little online package called 'For Kids & Teachers' with a section for students and teachers from Québec who are informed of ways to learn about French-Canadian Culture, Aboriginal Culture and Multicultural Cultures. It's sort of a museum version of the old international building at the Canadian National Exhibition in Toronto where one went after picking up the freebies at the Food Building. One of the suggested exercises is for the class to set up a manequin and other displays upon which they can show particular artifacts and distinctive objects that, one supposes, will permit them a greater understanding of the cultures of 'immigrants'. Selected artifacts include a Chinese vase, Korean Spinning Top, Icelandic Wedding Costume, Tibetan costume (not necessarily approved by the Chinese government), a Touraeg one-string fiddle, Vietnamese long zither, Mossi talking drum, and a German fish trap. Marvellous stuff. Using their 'search' device, I looked for any material at the museum that celebrates the culture that provided the foundation for the modern country in which the museum is situate. Alas, not a Maypole or bagpipe to be found. It's seems that it's not worthy of an honourable mention let alone a class display. Too bad. The kids and teachers have such an enormous array of 'stuff' from British culture that would undoubtedly enhance their classroom experience and even broaden their understanding of Canada. Selected artifacts might include things like a Churchill 'Toby', Raleigh Bicycle, or teapot but I think the students might want to show things, other than food or pottery, for which British culture is especially known. This year, 2007, marks the 100th anniversary of the founding of the Scout Movement by Robert Baden-Powell. So, I might find them a copy of 'From Tenderfoot to Queen's Scout', the former Boy Scout handbook that informs, instructs and inspires one toward good character, citizenship and individual initiative and achievement. I still have my copy and would be more than happy to lend it to them. In its own way, it is an amalgam of the advancement of civilisation in British cultural development where the habits that are informed by one's freedom as well as one's duty are played out, not in a song or dance, but in daily life; indeed, as a foundation for the whole of one's life as the founder Lord Baden-Powell intended. The Girl Guides had something similar but, of course, in those days, preparing for 'other things' was more important for girls than executing knots. The young enquirers might discover, even from that little book, the cultural thread between the promise, on one's honour, to 'do my best, to do my duty to God and the Queen, to help other people at all times and to obey the Scout Law,' and the institutions that created and govern the society in which they live, the freedom and prosperity that they enjoy and the sometimes shaky rule of law that keeps them safe. Come to think of it, perhaps a copy of the handbook could be given to every citizen beginning with politicians and judges. A display in the foyer of the House of Commons would be ideal and with a mannequin that, instead of wearing some powder-blue formal wear, or even the old woolen shorts and stockings, bore the uniform of a soldier, past or present. I've always found it curious when a politician says, usually with good intent, that our 'soldiers are not boy scouts'; suggesting that they exist for more than helping people. I think they are wrong. Most soldiers I know or have known are very much like good scouts. Certainly they know the meaning of 'duty', to their country and their sovereign, to God (as they might perceive God to be) and obedience to the law, including, but not restricted to Queen's Regulations & Orders. Sometimes 'helping people' means more than sharing a chocolate bar or assisting someone across a street; indeed, what greater 'help' has there ever been given by those who serve in uniform than when they have, with honour, resisted a fierce and threatening enemy and guarded the innocent and a whole way of life; even to the extent of sacrificing their own lives? British culture may not be particularly exotic and have the immediate charm of a one-string fiddle but there's more than a reef knot in the hot pots of Lancashire or even the take-away curry that has found it's way around the globe. In a way, the most representative of British artifacts is the Freeman, the 'citizen' himself or herself and, by odd coincidence, the most representative of citizens is the monarch whose very destiny at birth is the same honour, duty and obedience required of a Queen Scout. Robert Baden-Powell's Scout Law. 1. A Scout's honour is to be trusted 2. A Scout is Loyal to the King/Queen and to his officers, and to his country, and to his employers. 3. A Scout's duty is to be useful and to help others. 4. A Scout is a friend to all and a brother to every other Scout, no matter to what social class the other belongs. 5. A Scout is Courteous. 6. A Scout is a friend to animals. 7. A Scout obeys orders of his patrol leader or scout master without question. 8. A Scout smiles and whistles under all difficulties. 9. A Scout is thrifty. 10. A Scout is clean in thought, word, and deed. I wonder if it could be made into 'Rap'. No, I don't think so. G.B. |
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