Pat test

I agree there are some hopeless teenagers and 20 somethings out there who I'd not trust with a box of matches. However, I do not think this is a new effect, and there are some very hard working and switched on teenagers and 20 somethings as well - the trick is being able to tell them apart..

As some of you may know, as I occasionally mention it,  I am a Scout leader in some of my spare time, and I am constantly impressed how when under pressure youngsters can rise to the occasion and do remarkable things for each other and wider society in the most surprising ways.

There is perhaps more of a structural  problem that society expects youn adults to behave like infants, and does not expect them to do very much or provide many opportunities to show their abilities.

Perhaps in some ways the starting base in terms of what the average 11 year old can do is not what it was 25 years ago - fewer are confident with lighting fires and preparing food (but that is fixed quickly I find - monkey see monkey do  learning works well for making dinner) and map reading has been replaced by google, but there are other new odd skills - it seems that about half of 14 year olds can program in Python, know how to upload to youtube, and oddly an awareness of hygiene and of first aid seems very good compared to yesteryear

This  does not mean that we are doomed however, just that some of the ability is lying dormant.

regards Mike.

I agree there are some hopeless teenagers and 20 somethings out there who I'd not trust with a box of matches. However, I do not think this is a new effect, and there are some very hard working and switched on teenagers and 20 somethings as well - the trick is being able to tell them apart..

As some of you may know, as I occasionally mention it,  I am a Scout leader in some of my spare time, and I am constantly impressed how when under pressure youngsters can rise to the occasion and do remarkable things for each other and wider society in the most surprising ways.

There is perhaps more of a structural  problem that society expects youn adults to behave like infants, and does not expect them to do very much or provide many opportunities to show their abilities.

Perhaps in some ways the starting base in terms of what the average 11 year old can do is not what it was 25 years ago - fewer are confident with lighting fires and preparing food (but that is fixed quickly I find - monkey see monkey do  learning works well for making dinner) and map reading has been replaced by google, but there are other new odd skills - it seems that about half of 14 year olds can program in Python, know how to upload to youtube, and oddly an awareness of hygiene and of first aid seems very good compared to yesteryear

This  does not mean that we are doomed however, just that some of the ability is lying dormant.

regards Mike.