Scout Method in Primary Education: Effects on Personal and Social Responsibility and School Violence

Sandra Alonso Pérez1, Alberto Gómez-Mármol2 y Carlos de Pro Chereguini.    2019

Abstract

The aim of this research was to analyze the influence of implementing the Patrol System, derived from the Scout Method, in school contexts on personal and social responsibility and everyday school violence. The study involved sixteen 5th-grade students (ages 10 to 12; M = 11.57 ± 0.59) from a school for at-risk students in the city of Cartagena. Both the Personal and Social Responsibility Questionnaire and the Quotidian School Violence scale were administered. The results suggest that the application of this methodology can produce significant improvements in social responsibility while simultaneously contributing to a reduction in both perceived and experienced school violence.

Relevance to scouting

This research highlights the educational impact of the Scout Method, particularly the Patrol System, in promoting personal and social responsibility while reducing school violence. By applying Scouting principles in a formal classroom setting, the study demonstrates how the movement’s structured, peer-led approach encourages collaboration, empathy, and ethical behavior among students. These findings underscore the broader relevance of Scouting as a non-formal educational model that not only develops individual character but also fosters safer, more cooperative learning environments, reinforcing the value of Scouting methodologies beyond traditional outdoor or extracurricular contexts.