TheApple

Mr.Heffner,

How is it exactly that learning how to think critically will take away from the subjects? It is through the use of lterature, history, and other contents that we learn how to think and write critically. It does not seem that by teaching skills necessary for life tahat we would lose our contents, but would it in fact improve the use of our material. Maybe it would create the change that I personally think we need in education. Many times it is rote memorization that takes precendence in our classrooms and not true learning. Learning is the application and discovery of new skills, techniques, and then taking them and applying them to life now and beyond.

 The author of the article Critical thinking? You need knowledge is probably not a teacher, therefore she doesn't see the phrases such as critical thinking, cooperative learning, skills... practically and clearly.

• I can't imagine my lessons without students thinking critically.


• Cooperative learning is a good thing, but I don't see it as new contents, that would taken the place of the existent ones. It is only a different approach to the same educational contents. So, pushing anything to the margins doesn't seem logical to me.

Mr. Heffner,

I didn't mean to be disrespective...I'm from another part of the world, remember?

I agree totally with Mr. Heffner and the author of the article. Knowledge is needed along with critical thinking...and there just happens to be an excellent book out on this very topic! It is by Joe L. Kincheloe (who sadly recently passed away just after publishing this book). The name of the book is Knowledge and Critical Pedagogy: An Introduction. If you read this book, you will no longer have any doubts about why KNOWLEDGE and CRITICAL THINKING are needed in the world today along with, of course, the idea that part of that knowledge does include bringing back music and the arts. There is so much to be gained in terms of knowledge and inspiration, creativity and innovation by including these disciplines in the curriculum. What were we thinking when we allowed learning to become DEFINED by scores on standardized tests? We are doing our children and society -- and the world -- a huge disservice when we actively support these efforts by focusing our teaching time on tests. The students can pass the tests -- but only with knowledge and critical thinking skills, which they are not going to get by studying for a standardized test. Thus, teaching to the test or teaching processes for taking the tests completely defeats a true educational and learning process (which was the plan, btw, to keep the curriculum "dumbed down").

I highly recommend everyone who teaches read this book! Knowledge and Critical Pedagogy: An Introduction by Joe L. Kincheloe. It can be purchased from Amazon or from the publisher, Springer.

No, currently I am not receiving any money for recommending this book, although I may do that in the future and carry the book on my own website. This book is going to change education. I did know the author and worked with him.

To teacher_411

You asked if you were "getting" my post "correct." No, you did not get this correct. You have not completely understood what I have written. I stated that when we FOCUS on those tasks -- teaching to the test, teaching how to pass tests, and focus the students on memorizing facts for the test -- we are doing a disservice. That does not imply at all that we do not cover some elements of those things within the curriculum. I also did not refer to "teaching the standards" at all in my discussion. There are many, many was to teach the standards and they can be highly creative. The standards should be included in the curriculum, but not presented as mere facts for students to learn. I actually was present in a high school science class in which the teacher gave the students a list of all of the facts they needed to know and the textbook and she stated she had done her part, now it was up to them to learn the material in order to pass the standardized test and so I question how she considered herself a teacher. If we were to leave the standards out and guidance for test taking, it would also be a disservice since we are stuck with the program as it is. I do not think it is the ideal, however, It sounds like, from what you have described, that you are doing everything right and so there is no reason to feel offended by my comments at all. Glad you recognized we must be from different planets (lol).

MrHeffner says ...

First, the author of the article is a very well known and respected educator.

Second, I didn't say anything about agree or disagreeing with her. [Incidentally, I do agree with her.]

What she is trying to say is that the arts (for example) have been virtually eliminated from some schools (especiall in NYC where she is based) because of the drive toward better math and reading scores. Teachers are not encouraged to use any level of creativity that would spark students. Although I always thought that what I did (as a Social Studies Teacher) automatically was doing all the other things (i.e. I encouraged kids to read, write and do math in order to study American History). Now, if you aren't doing the prescribed work, you aren't doing what you are supposed to be doing...in many places. What the author is saying is that teachers should be allowed to do what we know they should be doing.

Mr. Heffner,

I totally agree with you and the author.