Kurt Hahn

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Kurt Hahn
Kurt Hahn

Kurt Martin Hahn (5 June, 1886 - 14 December, 1974) was a German-Jewish educator responsible for the creation of Outward Bound.

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[edit] Biography

Born in Berlin of Jewish parents, Hahn studied in Oxford, Berlin, Heidelberg, Freiburg and Göttingen. During World War I, Hahn worked in the German Department for Foreign Affairs, analyzing English newspapers and advising the Foreign Office. He had been private secretary to Prince Max von Baden, the last Imperial Chancellor of Germany. 1920-1933 Hahn was headmaster of Schule Schloss Salem, a private boarding school in Germany, founded in cooperation with Prince Max. In 1933 Hahn was forced out of Germany and moved to Scotland, where he founded Gordonstoun and served as its headmaster until 1953. Hahn inspired or initiated the foundation of Outward Bound Schools, the Atlantic College in Wales as well as other United World Colleges, the Duke of Edinburgh Award and many other schools based on the same principles as Salem and Gordonstoun.

Though Hahn had been raised Jewish, he was an early admirer of Hitler. Hahn began his fierce criticism of the Nazi regime after a young communist was killed by Hitler's storm troopers in the presence of his mother. When he spoke out against the storm troopers, who had received no punishment, Hahn spoke against Hitler publicly. He asked the students, faculty, and alumni of the Salem school to choose between Salem and Hitler. As a result he was imprisoned for five days (from 11-16 March 1933) [[1]]. After an appeal by British Prime Minister Ramsay MacDonald, Hahn was released and in July 1933 he was able to emigrate to Britain, where he settled in Scotland and founded Gordonstoun on similar principles to the school in Salem . Later, Hahn converted to Christianity and preached in the Church of Scotland.

[edit] Philosophy

Hahn's educational philosophy was based on respect for adolescents, whom he believed to possess an innate decency and moral sense, but who were (he believed) corrupted by society as they aged. He believed that education could prevent this corruption if students were given opportunities for personal leadership, and to see the results of their own actions. This is one reason for the focus on outdoor adventure in his philosophy. Hahn's educational thinking was crystallized by World War I, which he viewed as proof of the corruption of society and a promise of later doom if people (Europeans particularly) could not be taught differently. At the Schule Schloss Salem, in addition to acting as headmaster, he taught history, politics, ancient Greek, Shakespeare and Schiller. He was deeply influenced by Plato's thought. He said that Eton in some regards a model school. He invented a hierarchical system of schooling. Pupils were given ranks and a the higher ranking ones were expected to control the lower ranking ones. This also meant that if several pupils were involved in some bad behaviour and were caught the most senior ranking would be punished most because he had not taken responsibility and prevented poor behaviour from his subordinates.

[edit] Quotes

"The purpose of education is to impel people into value forming experiences, and (to ensure these qualities): a readiness for sensible self-denial, tenacity in pursuit, an enterprising spirit...and above all, compassion."
"There are three ways of trying to win the young. There is persuasion. There is compulsion and there is attraction. You can preach at them; that is a hook without a worm. You can say "you must volunteer." That is the devil. And you can tell them, "you are needed" that hardly ever fails."
"Education must enable young people to effect what they have recognized to be right, despite hardships, despite dangers, despite inner skepticism, despite boredom, and despite mockery from the world."

[edit] External links

[edit] References

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