Recognizing this intuitive tendency of boys to organize and maintain gangs, in whatever multifarious forms it may take, and the pernicious influence of unguided and unrestrained organizations on his moral and physical life, it is incumbent on parents and those standing _in loco parentis_ to supply him with an organization which will satisfy the gang spirit in his nature. A failure in this regard will drive the boy to association with the unsupervised gang which is frequently the school for dishonesty, untruthfulness, bullying, profanity, unclean speech, disregard of the personal and property rights of others, cigarette smoking, and social impurity. The unclean gang exerts a powerful pull toward criminality, while the clean gang stands as a barrier between the boy and delinquency. Your boy is a natural gangster, therefore encourage him to join a clean gang. CHAPTER XIII THE BOY SCOUT INFLUENCE What magic there is in the name of Scout! It calls up before the mind’s eye the vision of a buckskin-clad pioneer, inured to the hardships of the trail and endowed with the virtues of strength, fortitude, clear thinking, and courage which boys admire so much; one whose everyday life is made up of a series of thrilling adventures and hairbreadth escapes. Is it to be wondered at that the hero-worshiping boy, still in the semi-savage state, should desire to emulate such a romantic figure in our national life? The organization known as the Boy Scouts of America is a national movement, rather than an organization, whose primary object is character-building. It is non-sectarian and non-military. It furnishes the adolescent boy with facilities for the expression of his growing body, mind, and soul and inspires the virtues of patriotism, chivalry, honor, courtesy, loyalty, self-respect, faithfulness, cheerfulness, thoughtfulness, and obedience. There are three classes of Scouts; the tenderfoot, the second-class Scout and the First-class Scout, advancement being made according to the proficiency shown by examination. Suitable badges awarded for each class are prized as great honors and furnish the incentive to further progress in Scoutcraft. The reader is referred to the official handbook of the organization for a detailed statement of the many subjects included in their curriculum. These subjects cover practically the entire range of an adolescent’s interests and activities apart from the home, the school, and the church.