Nice little puppet...

[arnegrim]

Why does it seem that more and more our public education system has become a system of teaching children what to think rather then how to think for themselves?

 

[AirPo]

Because that's how the teachers are taught.

 

[Pyrokinesis]

Because it has always been like that. It seems that free thinking will soon get banned I guess.
For the society it is better, but what about an individual? Hmm

 

[Maynard Keenan]

Why does it seem that more and more our public education system has become a system of teaching children what to think rather then how to think for themselves?

because of state and national "standards" that impose tests and rigid requirements so that children are simply taught to regurgitate information rather than how to analyze facts and draw conclusion. Essentially, they are taught to memorize, not to learn.

 

[arnegrim]

For the society it is better,

I disagree wholeheartedly!

 

[MoodyBlue]

Blame the government and "No Child Left Behind".

 

[arnegrim]

I really don't think so... good try though.

 

[MoodyBlue]

I really don't think so... good try though.

how so?

 

[Vylo]

People who think for themselves are a greater threat to those who currently hold power and privilege. It is to their advantage to keep the majority of people thinking in ways that work towards their goals.

 

[WalksWithChrist]

People who think for themselves are a greater threat to those who currently hold power and privilege. It is to their advantage to keep the majority of people thinking in ways that work towards their goals.

The mindless masses.

 

[Bradford]

Moved: N/CE to GPD.

This will also serve as a reminder for everyone to keep it civil.

 

[Rochir]

Because ... psssst, can you give me the answer please?

 

[Alarum]

Because its easier on the teacher. Mindless regurgitation of concepts that were taught to the children is easy to pass off as learning, and substitutes for the real thing. Imagine how much more effort goes into real teaching, and you'll see that in an uncompetative world where there's no incentive to teach the children well, there's no incentive to put in more work than that.

 

[Ceris]

The mindless masses.

Just searching for intelligence.

Mmmmmmmmmmmm . . . brainssssssss.

 

[ScottishJohn]

I'm interested - what kind of examples do you have in mind when you talk about children being taught what to think rather than thinking for themselves.

As a youth worker I find it astonishingly hard to encourage the children in the area I work in to think at all.

Actually on a funny note, I enjoy encouraging imaginative play. A few months ago I noticed a little girl crawling around on her hands and knees in the soft play area roaring. As this is an improvement on her usual activities of punching kicking and pulling hair I decided to show some interest and encourage her, and play along etc. So I asked her what she was. She responed 'a TIGER' with a look of real excitement on her face. Quite sweet really. So I asked her: 'And what do tigers do?' (yeah I know stupid question - but you haven't heard the best bit!) She proceeded to show me exactly what Tigers did - she bit me . Hard. on my shoulder!

I really deserved that.

 

[arnegrim]

Well... what got me to thinking about it was the teacher who had students destroy the crosses recently... seems to be more and more of an issue in these last couple years.

 

[SummerMadness]

Well... what got me to thinking about it was the teacher who had students destroy the crosses recently... seems to be more and more of an issue in these last couple years.

What were the crosses for? Just because it's a cross, it doesn't mean they were necessarily good. For instance, the KKK burning a cross in front my house to intimidate me, I would have no problem with someone tearing down that symbol of hatred.

 

[Maxwell511]

Why does it seem that more and more our public education system has become a system of teaching children what to think rather then how to think for themselves?

I don't really understand this but it would probably depends on the class. For example, isn't not the job of the teacher to teach what the three branches of government are and not what the student thinks it is?

 

[Jetgirl]

Because its easier on the teacher. Mindless regurgitation of concepts that were taught to the children is easy to pass off as learning, and substitutes for the real thing. Imagine how much more effort goes into real teaching, and you'll see that in an uncompetative world where there's no incentive to teach the children well, there's no incentive to put in more work than that.

Quoted for Truth.

Also, it's frightening to teach someone how to think properly. They may turn around and be smarter than you, or worse, prove you wrong.

I see it all the time in business, even to the extent of deliberately misleading coworkers one is instructing so that they'll look bad and you'll look smarter. Its silly, its supid, its destuctive to the company, yet grown adults do this all the time.

I have no delusion that teachers are immune.

 

[Maxwell511]

because of state and national "standards" that impose tests and rigid requirements so that children are simply taught to regurgitate information rather than how to analyze facts and draw conclusion. Essentially, they are taught to memorize, not to learn.

Why do you believe that standardise tests eliminate the need for analyze?