Not too long ago President Kennedy made a statement to the effect that American youth is getting soft.

Maybe, because the automobile has become something of a must in every home, the kids are riding around in cars more than their parents did. But, where are they going?

They are driving to a steep hill to go tobogganing; to a skating rink; to the lakes for fishing, boating, swimming, and waterskiing; to the tennis courts for a few games of tennis; or maybe they're driving to a stable in the country so they can get some fresh air while enjoying the fun of horseback riding; or going to a football or basketball game to cheer for their school team. Are these the activities of "soft" kids?

The students at Maine West are required to pass eight semesters of physical education before they can graduate, even though they do not get any credits for their time. This means that most students have 45 minutes of supervised activities every day. These gym periods, plus whatever the student does in his leisure time, constitute an "activity filled" day. When a school has a physical education program like this how can President Kennedy say the American youth is not getting enough exercise?

Of course, not all American kids have this kind of program. This program is usually found in big cities and their surrounding suburbs. The smaller towns, however, are usually out in the country, and these kids have different "activities," among which are farm chores and just good, old‑fashioned, fresh air.

When President Kennedy said that American youth was getting soft, he may have meant, mainly, that life, itself, comes too easily to the kids of the twentieth century. But, as the old saying goes, "times change!," and from the beginning of life itself, every generation has had it a little better than the preceding generation. Yes, the kids of today have it a little easier, but it was their fathers and grandfathers who made the road lust that much smoother for them.

Perhaps critics should take a closer look at what the American youth is really doing, and why it is doing it.