It's been a while since we visited the risk aversion department, but it is one of my favorite topics. The latest is from Britain:

Teachers who refuse to let children take risks are undermining the economy, a former director general of the Confederation of British Industry says today.

In a savage attack on the health and safety culture in schools, Sir Digby Jones says that a generation of "cotton wool kids" are applying for jobs without any leadership or entrepreneurial skills.

He blames a raft of politically-correct policies imposed by head teachers, including sports days which have been banned to stop children being stigmatised as "losers" if they come last.

[ ... ]

"If we never took a risk our children would not learn to walk, climb stairs, ride a bicycle or swim; business would not develop innovative new products, move into new markets and create wealth for all; scientists would not experiment and discover; we would not have great art, literature, music and architecture," says Sir Digby.

It reminds me of the snowball ban from a few years ago. It should be clear that we can't just blame the schools here, many parents these days have an extraordinary tendency to opt for creating catatonic kids by combining risk aversion with low intensity activities. Not good. My daughters at ages six and four can swim, fight and are able to complete lengthy hikes and they love it. The school here however does do a pretty good 'bear awareness' campaign which I consider to be a very sensible form of 'risk preparation'.