“There is more in us than we know if we could be made to see it; perhaps, for the rest of our lives we will be unwilling to settle for less.”
― Kurt Hahn
Kurt Hahn (1886-1974)
Born June 5th 1886, he is considered as a key figure in the development of experiential education. From a cultured Jewish German family, he was educated at Wilhelm Gymnasium in Berlin, the University of Göttingen, and finally finished his education at Christ Church, in Oxford, where he studied philosophy and classics.
In 1902, while on vacation with friends, he started his interest in education, influenced by Plato, Baden Powell, and others, giving direction to his thinking.
Hind his return to Germany, he worked in the Department of Foreign Affairs. At the end of the first world war, he grew close to Prince Max Von Baden, and together they founded in 1920 the Salem Schloss Schule, to promote peace through education, while applying his innovative educational theories. His educational theory was based on the respect of adolescents, protecting them from a deteriorating society, through training in personal responsibility, kindness, and justice.
In 1933, Hahn spoke against the Fascist state, and was arrested and exiled in England, where he founded Gordonstoun. During the war, the school was moved to Wales, where he was inspired to found Outward Bound in 1941. He went on to create the Duke of Edinburgh's Award Scheme (1954) and the Atlantic Colleges (1957).
Through the 1960's Hahn traveled to the United States and other countries to visit the schools established in other locations.
He died on December 25, 1974, not able to finish implementing the Service by Youth Commission.
Inspired by Plato, Powell, and the Parable of the Good Samaritan, Kurt Hahn was concerned to develop active citizens. His educational "philosophy" was based on the belief that education should be regarded as a means to educate the "whole person". He believed in personal challenge, and his students were encouraged to rise to them, in order to "defeat their defeatism". He also incited students to join service projects, physical activities that would enable them to be involved with others, thus developing "caring" for others. His main objective was helping young people to become healthy, inquiring, skillful, caring and compassionate citizens. To him, education was equally important for the mind as the body.
Hahn stated regularly that there was nothing new in his schools, but material that was efficiently proven in time. We can therefor say that his genius resided in his ability to put together what is regarded as "experiential and outdoor education".
In an address on Outward Bound, Hahn quoted Napoleon's words as a warning: "the world is not ruined by the wickedness of the wicked, but by the weakness of the good". He recognized the importance of taking into consideration the lessons of history.
He died on December 25, 1974, not able to finish implementing the Service by Youth Commission.
Inspired by Plato, Powell, and the Parable of the Good Samaritan, Kurt Hahn was concerned to develop active citizens. His educational "philosophy" was based on the belief that education should be regarded as a means to educate the "whole person". He believed in personal challenge, and his students were encouraged to rise to them, in order to "defeat their defeatism". He also incited students to join service projects, physical activities that would enable them to be involved with others, thus developing "caring" for others. His main objective was helping young people to become healthy, inquiring, skillful, caring and compassionate citizens. To him, education was equally important for the mind as the body.
Hahn stated regularly that there was nothing new in his schools, but material that was efficiently proven in time. We can therefor say that his genius resided in his ability to put together what is regarded as "experiential and outdoor education".
In an address on Outward Bound, Hahn quoted Napoleon's words as a warning: "the world is not ruined by the wickedness of the wicked, but by the weakness of the good". He recognized the importance of taking into consideration the lessons of history.
"I regard it as the foremost task of education to insure the survival of these qualities: an enterprising curiosity, an undefeatable spirit, tenacity in pursuit, readiness for sensible self denial, and above all, compassion" - Kurt Hahn
Like Kurt Hahn, Alec Peterson acknowledged the fact that any development in society will come from its younger generations. Knowledge should definitely come with action. In today's global world, diversity in cultures, races and believes, can only bring enrichment to our lives.
More about Kurt Hahn and Experiential Education
- Address at the 48th Annual dinner of the Old Centraliens
http:// www.kurthahn.org/writings/oldcentral.pdf
- Harrogate address on Outward Bound
http://www.kurthahn.org/writings/gate.pdf
- The Kurt Hahn Address - A Speech by an Exceptional Experiential Educator
http://www.aee.org/about/awards/hahnaddress
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