Chapter 1: The Parent's Perspective

Every parent aspires for their child to excel as a thinker in school. This desire often leads to anxiety during events like back-to-school night, where parents hope to hear their child is among the brightest in the class.

How do I know this? I’ve engaged with countless parents, and their hopes are clear.

Chapter 2: The Teacher's Role

Now, what is the teacher's responsibility in the classroom? What should they do, and how should they react in challenging situations?

To current educators, I want to clarify: my intention is not to criticize. I understand the scrutiny teachers face on social media, and I hope the public can appreciate the complexities of the teaching profession. The issue lies not with teachers but with the K-12 system as a whole. I have written extensively about these challenges, and I encourage you to explore my articles on Medium, such as:

• The Learning Gap in Schools
• The Recipe for Student Learning Success
• What’s the Secret to Beating Teacher Burnout

In essence, teachers serve as guides in a child’s educational journey. If equipped with a modern and innovative curriculum, they can help unlock each student's full potential. However, when outdated materials are used, the consequences can be detrimental, impacting both immediate learning and long-term success.

Chapter 3: The Myth of Critical Thinking

Now that we have established a foundation, let’s explore the concept of critical thinking skills and the tendency of our K-12 system to claim it teaches these competencies.

First, it’s essential to understand the origins of critical thinking research. Numerous academic experts, including Dr. Robert Marzano, a leading authority in educational data, have dedicated their careers to defining and exploring critical thinking.

Dr. Marzano identifies six levels of critical thinking, as illustrated in the graphic below.

This framework categorizes critical thinking skills into higher and lower orders. It's crucial to note that this classification does not imply one type is more valuable than the other; rather, it relates to the mental complexity involved in completing a task. For example, memorizing information is considerably simpler than generating an original thought.

Consider how challenging it is to compose an original song or screenplay. Many resort to tools like ChatGPT to bypass the creative process, illustrating the mental effort required for true originality.

With this understanding of critical thinking skills in mind, let's tackle a pressing question: why do schools claim to teach these skills?

Chapter 4: Unraveling the Myth

One common misconception is that critical thinking skills must be explicitly taught. However, every human inherently possesses the ability to think critically.

René Descartes famously stated, “I think, therefore I am.” This philosophical insight underscores that thinking is a natural human capacity. Hence, we do not need formal education to develop critical thinking abilities.

So why do educators insist they teach these skills? Many teachers genuinely believe they know how to impart critical thinking skills. Yet, what often occurs in classrooms is that master educators engage students in critical thinking rather than explicitly teaching it. This distinction is often overlooked, leading many teachers to assume their role is to instruct on critical thinking.

Imagine if teachers shifted their focus from teaching critical thinking to fostering engagement across all six levels of these skills. What transformation could occur in classrooms? Would students find school more enjoyable?

The answer is a resounding YES! For instance, if educators concentrated on creating lesson plans that promote creativity rather than merely teaching it, students would likely engage more deeply in their learning experiences. This is why there's a growing interest in applying the Socratic method in classrooms.

While I do not dismiss the value of such techniques, they alone won't resolve the systemic issues plaguing our education system—an exploration for another discussion.

Chapter 5: Conclusion

So, what’s the key takeaway from this discussion? The short version is: Schools and teachers do not effectively teach critical thinking skills. Every individual has the innate ability to think critically, and educators should prioritize engaging with these six levels of critical thinking rather than focusing solely on instruction.

The teacher’s role is to be a learning guide, helping students navigate their educational journey without obstructing their path. Unfortunately, the current K-12 system has imposed unnecessary barriers for both students and teachers. To rectify this, we must eliminate these obstacles and empower teachers to fulfill their roles as guides.

To cultivate exceptional educators, we must address two fundamental issues:

1. Provide teachers with comprehensive training to become Master Teachers.
2. Supply them with a modern, innovative curriculum to deliver.

By resolving these critical challenges within our education system, we can expect substantial growth in our students, ultimately granting them greater access to future opportunities.

Have a Question?

Did anything in this article ignite a question or lead you to consider a different perspective? Feel free to share your thoughts or inquiries. Your feedback could inspire a new article—who knows? :)