Texas GOP Platform Opposes Teaching Critical Thinking Skills

[amarante]

Yes it's true

- http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/...pFXW_blog.html

Isn't the purpose of education to teach skills which enable people to think - challenge fixed beliefs and while I'm not sure undermining parental authority is not the goal - or necessarily the end product of raising a child who thinks for himself, what parent actually wants to raise a child who never questions anything.

Are their beliefs so fragile that they can't defend them against questions and/or logic?

We oppose the teaching of Higher Order Thinking Skills (HOTS) (values clarification), critical thinking skills and similar programs that are simply a relabeling of Outcome-Based Education (OBE) (mastery learning) which focus on behavior modification and have the purpose of challenging the student’s fixed beliefs and undermining parental authority.

Here's Steve Colbert's bit on it.


http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/...nsuW_blog.html

[heavy hedonist]

"Are their beliefs so fragile that they can't defend them against questions and/or logic?"


in a word, Yes. I think a Principles of Reasoning course should happen in grade school.

[Gumbeaux]

This reminds me of the genocide in Cambodia where people who wore glasses were killed because they were thought to be intellectuals and used their brain. Is this where the GOP is heading?

[BarbaraL]

No critical thinking? This is beyond belief. Isn't this how the Taliban thinks?

I was also interested in this "plank":

Early Childhood Development – We believe that parents are best suited to train their children in their early development and oppose mandatory pre-school and Kindergarten. We urge Congress to repeal government-sponsored programs that deal with early childhood development.

What about parents who need to work? I can hear the uproar about "welfare moms" who "refuse" to work; what are they to do with their children until first grade? I don't think pre-school should be "mandatory", but repealing all govt-sponsored programs???

[amarante]

No critical thinking? This is beyond belief. Isn't this how the Taliban thinks?

I was also interested in this "plank":

Early Childhood Development – We believe that parents are best suited to train their children in their early development and oppose mandatory pre-school and Kindergarten. We urge Congress to repeal government-sponsored programs that deal with early childhood development.

What about parents who need to work? I can hear the uproar about "welfare moms" who "refuse" to work; what are they to do with their children until first grade? I don't think pre-school should be "mandatory", but repealing all govt-sponsored programs???

That's really sad but I think it's about defunding public education - if they could they would eliminate public schools since "vouchers" are essentially a way to squeeze money out of the public school system and into parochial and "private academies".

Gail Collins' recent book - AS TEXAS GOES
How the Lone Star State Hijacked the American Agenda is illuminating and depressing.

http://www.nytimes.com/2012/06/10/bo...pagewanted=all

From what I have read early childhood education makes a huge difference for children from non-affluent families and the benefits seem to last throughout their education.

[Beth]

I am glad this came up. It was in the paper here and I meant to post a link and didn't get to it.

The folks in Texas are also keenly aware that the large number of textbooks used here drives the choices for a lot of the books and curriculum in the smaller states, so they aren't just hurting our kids. It takes years to correct the textbooks and curriculum. I disagree with the voucher ideas and support the best public education we can provide for everyone. At the same time, I am so disappointed with the increased focus on standardized testing and the lack of time for critical thinking, analysis, questioning and discovery that I think should be a part of every education. Instead of leaving no child behind, I fear we are on the track to leave every child behind. I guess you don't see it that way if all you want are people who can memorize facts and figures, bubble in answers and conform to the status quo. That doesn't lead to new cures for diseases, put a man on the moon, build more fuel efficient or alternative fuel options, feed a crowded planet.

I think I have a raw nerve today. It is time to get ready to take my dad in for his surgery (he has been difficult the last week or two -- maybe worrying about this, and it hasn't helped anything). Enjoy the discussion.

[newcook]

This is all very interesting.

Can someone educate this Canadian? What does GOP stand for?

[amarante]

This is all very interesting.

Can someone educate this Canadian? What does GOP stand for?

It's the Republican Party - It originally stood for Grand Old Party -where that sobriquet came from, I have no idea.

[tbb113]

From USHistory.org

And what of the nickname "Grand Old Party"?
The nickname of the Republican Party didn't get attached to it until 1888. Previously, the nickname had been used by Southern Democrats. After the Republicans won back the Presidency and Congress for the first time since the Grant administration, the Chicago Tribune proclaimed: "Let us be thankful that under the rule of the Grand Old Party ... these United States will resume the onward and upward march which the election of Grover Cleveland in 1884 partially arrested."

[SDMomChef]

No critical thinking? This is beyond belief. Isn't this how the Taliban thinks?

I was also interested in this "plank":

Early Childhood Development – We believe that parents are best suited to train their children in their early development and oppose mandatory pre-school and Kindergarten. We urge Congress to repeal government-sponsored programs that deal with early childhood development.

What about parents who need to work? I can hear the uproar about "welfare moms" who "refuse" to work; what are they to do with their children until first grade? I don't think pre-school should be "mandatory", but repealing all govt-sponsored programs???

That saddens me beyond belief. I don't understand why there isn't a consensus to support early childhood education programs for kids who live in poverty, like head start.

[Robyncz]

That saddens me beyond belief. I don't understand why there isn't a consensus to support early childhood education programs for kids who live in poverty, like head start.

Because, at least in Texas, those in power have a vested interest in keeping a good portion of the population in poverty. Defunding, or even better, dismantling public education and early childhood education is one of the surest ways to make this happen.