I have often been placed in a 'teaching' position with students and non-students and when asked a question I usually would ask them to take five minutes and try to consider some possible answers or solutions to their question. This was often met with disdain due to an impatient desire for immediate response, as though any thinking at that point would be akin to lifting 300 pounds. Some would say they had thought about it and I would then engage in a series of questions regarding their thought process [the so-called "Socratic" method] which, often, would lead to the expressions of disdain and impatience. Seeking the immediate answer or solution deprives themselves the duty to try and lift the '300 pounds' of thinking that would help train them to endure the responsibility of trying to think for themselves.
This is a great piece. One person can truly make a difference. Thank you Mr. Droz. I enjoy all your writings and your “Critically Thinking” pieces. There’s precious little of that left in America.
The implications of this are profound! Children must learn how to think for themselves - how to effectively seek answers to all the issues that we face daily. The Scientific Method arms them with this knowledge - and arms them with the ability to challenge others' opinions as well. In a world where anyone, at any time, can ask siri, or alexa, or google, or chatGPT a question about anything and get an immediate answer - effectively quashing the need to think independently at all - well, the Scientific Method (and critical thinking) are our two best defenses against losing this precious skill. The battle is far from over!
John...this is the best news that I’ve heard in months. Congrats on your efforts and it shows how one person, with facts, smarts and being on the right side of right can have a big impact. Onward and upward toward having the same outcome for Critical Thinking.
I count the change in NC science education a great victory. Thank you. A quote comes to mind**. Quotes are easy to come by. Efforts like yours are rare.
John has laid out a roadmap that should inspire citizens in every state and motivate them to pursue changing science education standards in their own states, from the local school boards to the state boards, as John has been so successful at doing. His is a remarkable achievement that shows that actually engaging with the review process of proposed changes to education standards can achieve much more than simply sending letters and text messages to board members and other elected officials (although that remains important). John's hard work reminds us of Edison's remark that achieving results is 99% perspiration - meaning it takes research and then the hard work of engaging with the standards review processes, and sticking with it, to restore sound education standards in the schools.
I am amazed and impressed that you were able to influence these results. I know you will keep an eye on the situation. It's difficult to trust our elected and appointed officials to do the next right thing. We must watch what they do and relegate what they say to the bank burner. Hopefully, in the next election we WILL replace many of the woke left with responsible sensible individuals.
I have often been placed in a 'teaching' position with students and non-students and when asked a question I usually would ask them to take five minutes and try to consider some possible answers or solutions to their question. This was often met with disdain due to an impatient desire for immediate response, as though any thinking at that point would be akin to lifting 300 pounds. Some would say they had thought about it and I would then engage in a series of questions regarding their thought process [the so-called "Socratic" method] which, often, would lead to the expressions of disdain and impatience. Seeking the immediate answer or solution deprives themselves the duty to try and lift the '300 pounds' of thinking that would help train them to endure the responsibility of trying to think for themselves.
This is a great piece. One person can truly make a difference. Thank you Mr. Droz. I enjoy all your writings and your “Critically Thinking” pieces. There’s precious little of that left in America.
The implications of this are profound! Children must learn how to think for themselves - how to effectively seek answers to all the issues that we face daily. The Scientific Method arms them with this knowledge - and arms them with the ability to challenge others' opinions as well. In a world where anyone, at any time, can ask siri, or alexa, or google, or chatGPT a question about anything and get an immediate answer - effectively quashing the need to think independently at all - well, the Scientific Method (and critical thinking) are our two best defenses against losing this precious skill. The battle is far from over!
Bravo, John! Your efforts have made a tremendous difference in the future of K-12 education. This is a game-changer for sure. Thank you!
John...this is the best news that I’ve heard in months. Congrats on your efforts and it shows how one person, with facts, smarts and being on the right side of right can have a big impact. Onward and upward toward having the same outcome for Critical Thinking.
John:
I count the change in NC science education a great victory. Thank you. A quote comes to mind**. Quotes are easy to come by. Efforts like yours are rare.
Stan
**Benjamin Franklin
Energy and persistence conquer all things.
John has laid out a roadmap that should inspire citizens in every state and motivate them to pursue changing science education standards in their own states, from the local school boards to the state boards, as John has been so successful at doing. His is a remarkable achievement that shows that actually engaging with the review process of proposed changes to education standards can achieve much more than simply sending letters and text messages to board members and other elected officials (although that remains important). John's hard work reminds us of Edison's remark that achieving results is 99% perspiration - meaning it takes research and then the hard work of engaging with the standards review processes, and sticking with it, to restore sound education standards in the schools.
I am amazed and impressed that you were able to influence these results. I know you will keep an eye on the situation. It's difficult to trust our elected and appointed officials to do the next right thing. We must watch what they do and relegate what they say to the bank burner. Hopefully, in the next election we WILL replace many of the woke left with responsible sensible individuals.
Thanks for this John. Local/regional control of K-12 education is critical to countering state educational overreach.