When I was completing my undergraduate degree, I presented at an English conference. My subject was Teaching Students HOW to Think, Not WHAT to Think. Some people there disagreed. I thought about this because I thought I heard someone on a newscast say that teachers should be teaching students what to think. How many of you think that this is what we as educators should be doing: teaching our students what to think.

likesmart
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Agree.. we give them tools to see both sides and they then get to make decisions and think for themselves.

likesmart

We have been teaching to the test for so long that we have removed all creativity from the curriculum. Creativity is where critical thinking skills are born--the ability to problem solve and to see that there is not really a box (rather than thinking outside it). Kids can't problem solve because we have been giving them the answers for so long. What happened to asking a question and waiting for a correct answer? Nope, we jump right in and tell them if they can't figure it out on their own. We need to be teaching kids how to think, not what.

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I frequently said to my students :"I don't care *what* you think; I care *that* you think."

Then I taught them Logic. Syllogistic reasoning, Logical Fallacies, etc.

smart

In general I think we teach them how to think. That being said, everything could be taken to extremes or misapplied.

A kid uses white supremacist or misogynistic language in my class towards classmates I am not going to say "Well, it is not my job to teach little Huey what to think." Nor am I going to entertain the possibility that they might be right about outrageous conspiracy theories. So when a student who is a flat earther wants to start a debate, I will tell them they are wrong and move on.

likesmarthelpful

This becomes political very quickly. Especially because if you teach them how to think (or even encourage them to think at all), Republicans will accuse you of teaching them WHAT to think. Critical thinking threatens them.

likeuplifting

Unfortunately, you speak truth.

I agree with you! We should help students access their own thinking around many things.
What in the world?!?!

likesmart

I’ve never heard anyone in education say that. Sounds like a not so good professor

like

Never! Where were those folks coming from? Were they political? I have never heard teachers talk about telling kids what to think; it’s always been how to think. When you step into teaching what to think, you are indoctrinating—no matter what side of the aisle you come from.

If we taught what to think, our lives would be much easier! But that’s not why I’m in the classroom.

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Unfortunately, the persons at the conference were educators (university level). The recent mention was someone (politician parent news person?) on one of the weekend news programs. As I mentioned in my original post- I HOPE that I misheard or misunderstood what he said🤔, but I don’t think I did. Unfortunately.

I try to teach my students how to think; I find that a lot of the examples I use end up as responses to essay questions on the tests. Apparently, the students believe I am there to teach them what to think. (If they use textual evidence in support, I cannot argue too much, as using evidence to support ideas is a major skill I am trying to teach. If all they do is repeat back to me what I said, I dock them for not supporting their points.)

smart

I understand because many students fall apart when I press them for an individual thought. Some to the point of tears, and I am beginning to feel unease because I do not see this trajectory having a positive outcome for our future. I keep thinking of lemmings, just following along to the precipice.

likehelpful

So tough, there are definitely times when some thoughts are hurtful and I always try to begin w/ framing thoughts from a SEL viewpoint so students can use their critical thinking and create their own ideas around how their thoughts impact the people around them.

smart

How to think is a better choice for our students. This way, they can synthesis and assess their thinking to make valid justification for their thinking!! As the saying goes: "think outside the box"!!!

like

I 100% agree with you!

I know I'm coming to this conversation a bit late, but I completely agree with the original post. Our job as educators is not to indoctrinate. Students need us to model and assist in their ability to acquire knowledge; what they do with that knowledge after that is their business. We only teach HOW to acquire knowledge.

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