ABSTRACT
The most frequent call for a change in attitudes concerns the so-called ‘work ethic’ sometimes referred to as the ‘Protestant work ethic’. The combination of attitudes could of course be interpreted as constituting a ‘work ethic’ but it would probably be more accurate to describe them as manifestations of a ‘work-based culture’. The idea behind the development of critical faculties is that young people are going to be faced with increased leisure and a rapidly changing world without the certainties of past generations, and that in order to cope with this they will need all sorts of qualities and skills, including developed critical faculties and resourcefulness. The idea that young people could emerge from the education system basically stupid but with all sorts of wonderful qualities enabling them to cope competently with an ever-changing world of leisure, but not much else, is far-fetched.
