Some have acquired titles – governor, congressman, senator, mayor, doctor, lawyer, salesman, minister, judge . . . others are assigned labels – bleeding-heart liberals, narrow-minded conservatives, wishy-washy centrist, terrorist, fascists, extremists, militant . . . All of them are teaching lessons that our children are learning.
Some are moral; some are wicked. Some are humble; some are pious. Some will teach the truth, and others will teach “the lies.” Some will teach to promote the best aspirations of a participatory democracy, and others will teach to promote thinking that goes contrary to the best principles of our democratic government. All of them are teaching lessons that our children are learning.
Individual rights, religious freedom, free speech, freedom of the press, the role of government in a democratic society, the separation of powers, and the origin of humankind are a few of the crucial issues some of them will discuss. Other will present issues about individual life styles – dating, drugs, sex (abstinence vs. promiscuity), sexual orientation, inclusion, diversity, etc. – in magazines, books, television, computer programs, and other media outlets. Nonetheless, all of them are teaching lessons that our children are learning.
This brings me to the most important questions, which those of us who are professional teachers (formal instructors in schools) should be asking ourselves: How can we help students to make the decisions – now and in the future – that are in their best interest and the best interest of our society? And how can we prepare them to act in accordance with our best moral and democratic principles, when so much of “what they are learning” is external to our control?
Answer: Let’s help our students to become critical thinkers, with the knowledge and skills to independently “dig” for the truth. Let’s assist them in their acquisition of the knowledge and skills to detect bias, unsubstantiated claims, illogical arguments, and out-right lies. The greatest gift that we (professional teachers) can give to our children is the burning zeal to become excellent, critical thinkers.
We know how to teach and empower children, so that they will become life-long learners of critical thinking! Those of us who are currently doing so will tell you that it is spiritually uplifting and fun!
