Kurt Hahn - Six Declines of Modern Youth

Six Declines of Modern Youth

  1. Decline of Fitness due to modern methods of locomotion ;
  2. Decline of Initiative and Enterprise due to the widespread disease of spectatoritis;
  3. Decline of Memory and Imagination due to the confused restlessness of modern life;
  4. Decline of Skill and Care due to the weakened tradition of craftsmanship;
  5. Decline of Self-discipline due to the ever-present availability of stimulants and tranquilizers;
  6. Decline of Compassion due to the unseemly haste with which modern life is conducted or as William Temple called “spiritual death”.

Hahn not only pointed out the decline of modern youth, he also came up with four antidotes to fix the problem.

  1. Fitness Training (e.g., to compete with one's self in physical fitness; in so doing, train the discipline and determination of the mind through the body)
  2. Expeditions (e.g., via sea or land, to engage in long, challenging endurance tasks)
  3. Projects (e.g., involving crafts and manual skills)
  4. Rescue Service (e.g., surf lifesaving, fire fighting, first aid)

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