Six Declines of Modern Youth (Kurt Hahn, 1886 – 1974)
en.wikipedia.org
en.wikipedia.org
I'm not sure if Hahn published these points all at once, or if they were collected over his life. Either way, they seem extremely relevant to modern times.
> 1. Decline of Fitness due to modern methods of locomotion;
> 2. Decline of Initiative and Enterprise due to the widespread disease of spectatoritis (i.e. "excessive indulgence in forms of amusement in which one is a passive spectator rather than an active participant");
> 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 tranquillisers;
> 6. Decline of Compassion due to the unseemly haste with which modern life is conducted or, as William Temple called it, "spiritual death".
I can relate to just about all of these, either personally, or having read modern examples during bouts of spectatoritis.
Fortunately Hahn proposes 4 solutions. I'm interested to get your thoughts on these.
> 1. Fitness Training (e.g., to compete with oneself 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).