A treatous on our educational system and its graduates.
This blog in no way is an argument or disparagement on our teachers, but it will discuss our educational system and its graduates as a whole. Why this writer believes that our high school and college graduates are destined to fall into a primordial soup of mindless brainwashing from liberal ideologies. If we "older" generations don't instill critical thinking and discernment skills to our youth they will fail to mine the ideologies of feelings trump science, and the truth is relative mindset that pervades academia today.
When we look at our educational system we see dedicated teachers at the elementary through High school level, but I believe their hands are tied, they would like to teach critical think, and helping students understand that not everything they are taught is "fact" but opinion. The first thing our youth and young adults must learn is that there is absolute truth and that there are dissenting academic experts out there that have a different world view. It is at the college level of education that we see students being taught that your feelings, trump facts and taught that "fact" as the professors present it is true. What are we to do to help guide our youth and young adults an independent way of thinking and to test all things they are told.
1. This is done by teaching critical thinking. The bottom line, in a Christian worldview, is that humans are sinful, we need a savior, and our salvation is in Jesus Christ, not human reason.
On the other hand, logical reasoning is useful, it should be highly valued, and "critical thinking must be a part of every Christian classroom if we are to maintain our integrity." (from Critical Thinking and the Christian Perspective by Wendy Dutton, Thomas Hart, and Rebecca Patten)
For living by faith as a Christian, one useful approach is to combine critical thinking — "the art of taking charge of your own mind [which is valuable because]... if we can take charge of our own minds, we can take charge of our lives" — with Christian thinking: "Do not conform yourselves to the standards of this world, but let God transform you inwardly by a complete change of your mind. Then you will be able to know the will of God — what is good and is pleasing to him and is perfect."
When we look at our educational system we see dedicated teachers at the elementary through High school level, but I believe their hands are tied, they would like to teach critical think, and helping students understand that not everything they are taught is "fact" but opinion. The first thing our youth and young adults must learn is that there is absolute truth and that there are dissenting academic experts out there that have a different world view. It is at the college level of education that we see students being taught that your feelings, trump facts and taught that "fact" as the professors present it is true. What are we to do to help guide our youth and young adults an independent way of thinking and to test all things they are told.
1. This is done by teaching critical thinking. The bottom line, in a Christian worldview, is that humans are sinful, we need a savior, and our salvation is in Jesus Christ, not human reason.
On the other hand, logical reasoning is useful, it should be highly valued, and "critical thinking must be a part of every Christian classroom if we are to maintain our integrity." (from Critical Thinking and the Christian Perspective by Wendy Dutton, Thomas Hart, and Rebecca Patten)
Critical = Evaluative (and it's not necessarily negative) To avoid misunderstanding, the homepage for CRITICAL THINKING begins with a non-definition:
critical thinking is not necessarily being "critical" and negative; in fact, it would be more accurate to call it evaluative thinking. The result of evaluation can range from positive to negative, from acceptance to rejection or anything in-between. Yes, critical evaluation can produce a glowing recommendation. On this page, for example, the quotes and links — which are recommended, but (as with all sources of information) should be used with an attitude of "critical thinking" evaluation — are the result of my own critical thinking.
critical thinking is not necessarily being "critical" and negative; in fact, it would be more accurate to call it evaluative thinking. The result of evaluation can range from positive to negative, from acceptance to rejection or anything in-between. Yes, critical evaluation can produce a glowing recommendation. On this page, for example, the quotes and links — which are recommended, but (as with all sources of information) should be used with an attitude of "critical thinking" evaluation — are the result of my own critical thinking.
Critical Thinking & Worldviews in Education
Later, probably by November 2009, this page will be developed more fully with information about (and for) "thinking skills" education in home schools and in private and public schools. Until then, you can read about The Potential Dangers of Critical Thinking and Worldview Education in Public Schools. And useful ideas for converting worldview-ideas into worldview-action are in CHRISTIAN WORLDVIEW EDUCATION & LIVING YOUR WORLDVIEW.
2. I think we should teach youth and young adults that it's ok to disagree with someone they are sitting under in class. It's ok to disagree with your professors and teachers. But we must give our students a sound and logical defense to their teachers. We can not leave them unaware of the information and is just as strong if not stronger to many of the topics that are taught in school.
3. Lastly but certainly not the end of this is the need for a Biblical worldview. I would be remiss if I as a Christian leader didn't propose a Biblical worldview. I am no ashamed to say that I didn't learn critical thinking and a biblical worldview until I became a Christian. It is a way of looking through the world through a Biblical lens.
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