Many know but others wonder why those who have been educated in the last two or three decades seem so incapable of independent thought, analysis and understanding?
This has occurred mostly but has not been restricted to those who have come up and are coming up through the Public system(s) as many (not all) Private schools have also suffered from the same disease caused by socialist, woke, progressive, DEI believing types who now infest and control those systems.
It does indeed come down to a few basic things that are now and have been lacking for quite some time but perhaps and prime amongst those (aside from the lack of basic math, reading and writing skills) has to be the complete lack of the ability to think critically.
While a very small number courtesy of their parents and others have gained this ability despite the indoctrination system(s) that our supposed education systems have become most, many actually have not.
The result...???
Just look around but also take into consideration those who talk the talk but do not walk the walk (for the most part) on our very broken systems (a theme these days).
I could list more than a couple of Provincial Premiers who have been frauds (there was a hint there) in this regard but those parents who have been paying attention and who care know exactly who those Premiers are.
SO YES...
All over Canada we need to kick start this ability lost by many into high gear.
Will that happen??
Well.. Looking around the lack of this critical skill is to the advantage of the many, at all levels of Government who WOULD CONTROL.
I agree with the author’s argument but this would mean that many of the current professors would need to be replaced. If they are not teaching critical thinking now it is likely because they don’t have the skills themselves. Merit based hiring would be essential even if it means a few “white” people get hired.
What needs to be done is like the US Administration is currently going to do: scrap the Department of Education. Government should have nothing to do with education. Do homeschooling and let the people and the families themselves look after education from start to finish.
To give a framework, the federal government is not in charge of education, this is administered on a provincial level but the provincial government is not in charge of determining curriculum and that is handled by the teachers union, a body not elected by parents or citizens, and they determine the educational materials to be used to educate students and teachers failing to follow their guidelines are subject to corrective action by the union, jeopardizing their jobs.
The school boards also have input and influence over what is being brought into the local districts. One major issue in Canada though is that with the massively declining birth rates, school board members are now often childless activists who are following their own anti-family and anti-child agendas that they've brought into their local districts, they are being voted in by other childless activists and people with no stake in childrens welfare or wellbeing.
Final authority for child education should always lie with the parents and school boards should only consist of candidates and members that either have their own children in the school system or are grandparents of children in the school system. No childless activist stakeholders should be able to vote for candidates for the local school boards, it should only be parents and grandparents that have a right to vote about how their children/grandchildren are being educated.
School boards and schools have become a breeding ground for activism and ideological training that are diametrically opposed to academia and critical thinking. The government authority should lie only with the creation of laws and those laws should be amended to only parents and grandparents have the right to be involved in decision making for the school systems as to content. Teachers that want to create their own courses or content should approach their local school boards for approval about what they are teaching.
Thank you, Sean. I do agree. I was simply pointing out that government at any level including provincial should not be involved with education. It simply should be parents alone as you pointed out correctly. Teachers should come from the district in which the school is, and only parents, again as you correctly point out should have a say in this. Good teachers teaching good things to our children. Education should always start with the family unit and not work its way up into controlling boards and government institutions. Thank you again.
I agree with you, but who is going to teach the students? I would posit that many teachers are not critical thinkers themselves. You also need some kind of firm basis to compare what you see/hear/read/ to exert critical judgment, otherwise you likely end up following an ideology or some dictate. So who possesses the Truth?
Remember that old expression "The Truth is in the eyes of the beholder".
To be fair, it is a fair comment that your truth may not be mine or another's".
... BUT ...
In order to even fairly judge the above would take the ability to think critically, know how to listen, do one's own homework and take input from a number of different sources before deciding on same.
... AND SO ...
To even address your premise we would need to re-education and re-train those who have lost that above ability which sadly is "THE MANY".
There are still more than a few who still know how to, practice it, and could likely teach Critical Thinking if they chose to and were asked.
I agree they should but they won’t because it might threaten their goal of indoctrination. Even 15 years ago there was contempt for trades and climate hysteria and trans ideology is taught often too. Critical thinking would undermine it all.
Banana Republic? C'mon now. It's way too cold in Canada to grow bananas. We can, however, run our entire transportation system on electric vehicles - without even a power grid to support them. It's almost magic!
So, not a Banana Republic, more like a Magical Unicorn Rainbows and Sunshine Republic.
Great article, I agree wholeheartedly, but you failed to mention the teaching methods, or should I say indoctrination methods, goes well beyond our education system. I am 62 yrs old and I know many people in my age group that do not or can not practice critical thinking. One of the most indoctrinated group's in Canadian society are govt people, at all levels, these weak minded people have allowed themselves to become brainwashed. Again, it is not just the last couple of generations, I know many gen x and boomers who are truly walking stupid. Our education system obviously practices indoctrination, but also govt and most business leader's. How many of you have worked for a small, medium or large business that did not allow you to think for your self? I know most of my career, which included approx. 4 career changes, I found the majority of business leaders were autocratic to the core. So, here is my critical thinking: Socialism does not work, it teaches and creates dependence on the govt and business leaders, proof? Just look at today's Indians in Canada, they couldn't survive another couple of decades without the tax payers money. And look at our Canadian safety net: the majority of people relying on govt handouts for survival is not only absurd, but also embarrassing to a hard working, blue collar, successful Canadian, like myself...no excuses accepted here! Canada is not a polite society, Canadians are apathetic and compliant and the past 150 yrs has created today's problem. I for one have always questioned authority, which has lead to many confrontation's in my life; school, in my professional life and my social life. I have been kicked out of school, fired from jobs and lost friends, but today I am comfortably retired (at age 59, with a 2 yr college diploma) and I do not follow the consensus, at any cost. People call me many names, but I never here them accuse me of having conviction, honesty or integrity. So yes, our apathy and compliance is a great tool for all authority to abuse. Canadians cannot blame anyone but themselves for today's messed up/evil/dangerous society, our children, grandchildren and great grandchildren are going to suffer because of our apathy and compliance. Don't believe me? Just look at the scamdemic, Canada is one of the top nations with the highest population which allowed themselves to be coerced into an unproven vaccine! If that doesn't say it all about Canadians, I do not know what will. Why would anyone, with a sound mind follow any govt official? Any and all govt's today, DO NOT have your best interest in mind! I am a conservative, but I am not religious, I have a similar opinion concerning religion as well and humanities history can support my theories.
100% nailed it, I have followed a path very similar to yours, lived in 4 countries during my 59yrs (Uk, Australia, USA and now Canada), have never trusted politicians or the government whom which have never made my life better, I don't take kindly to authority, which is basically people who try to corral and coerce to wield power for their own gain. I have morals although I'm an atheist and I treat people how I would like to be treated but treat those who are arseholes with the contempt they deserve.
I have worked hard and reaped the rewards (despite several restarts from nothing, no aid from any government branch and being taxed to oblivion) and am now also retired. 3 of the 4 countries are sliding into the abyss of Marxism, the USA has had a lucky escape...for now. People need to wake up but I fear by the time they do it will be too late.
There are some but fewer professors that allow debate contrary to their personal feelings. Almost 30 years ago my university enrolled son wrote a somewhat brilliant and humorous biographical essay on a relatively obscure, homey and elderly Mississippi Blues singer named “T Model Ford”. It included direct quotations from this gifted Black man who grew up in the Littlerock era. The quotes included T Model’s observations and defense of a relationship with a White woman among other non progressive life experiences. The white female prof ( who was unknowingly married to a black man) gave him a D grade but another white female prof guided him to challenge the grade on his A essay that was elevated to a B+. It didn’t get the A so as to not overly embarrass the progressive prof but the bio was published in the University’s journal. The original D grade was based on discrediting the life experiences of a man from a different era. This is very much like the discrediting of the American author Mark Twain and more importantly our creator of Canada Sir John A MacDonald by well meaning progressives who can’t tolerate different views from different eras. It is time to return to actual debate where two opinions are presented and the debaters flip a coin to see which side they are to defend.
Russo is quite right on this subject. The younger generation has no idea how to figure things out on their own. It's all memorized. Anything outside of that memorization, they're are totally blocked. And I see that as a result of teacher replacement with computers and cell phones or cellular devices. They are not taught to think with their brain, they are taught to rely on the their electronic gadgets. If they get caught in a situation without them, most of them are totally screwed.
Critical thinking is the enemy of a state that's end goal is totalitarian rule, sheep are easy to herd and control. Canadian learing institutions have been overrun with leftist idealogy spewing boards, teachers and faculty who are indoctrinating young minds to accept total government control over every aspect of their lives. They are being taught anticapitalist views and have absolutely no idea that capitalism is what built the world we have today, they think it is a bad thing because they have never been taught, (convieniently and by blatent omission), what previous and current socialist and communist (Marxist) regimes do to their citizens to remain in power. Marxism has contributed absolutely zero to the world socially or productively but has killed vastly more people in the last 120 yrs than all wars put together, an evil idealogy sugarcoated by sick liberals, who are the exact polar opposite of what being liberal or a liberalist actually is. Elbows up🤡
We could learn from great skeptics (Pyrrho, Aristotle, Sagan, Hume, etc) as exemplars of critical thinkers. Let’s not perpetuate skepticism as a negative.
So true, we need critical thinking, but without being referred to nazis or commies or any other hateful comments! Freedom of speech is necessary and people are welcome to have different opinions and espouse them freely.
Many know but others wonder why those who have been educated in the last two or three decades seem so incapable of independent thought, analysis and understanding?
This has occurred mostly but has not been restricted to those who have come up and are coming up through the Public system(s) as many (not all) Private schools have also suffered from the same disease caused by socialist, woke, progressive, DEI believing types who now infest and control those systems.
It does indeed come down to a few basic things that are now and have been lacking for quite some time but perhaps and prime amongst those (aside from the lack of basic math, reading and writing skills) has to be the complete lack of the ability to think critically.
While a very small number courtesy of their parents and others have gained this ability despite the indoctrination system(s) that our supposed education systems have become most, many actually have not.
The result...???
Just look around but also take into consideration those who talk the talk but do not walk the walk (for the most part) on our very broken systems (a theme these days).
I could list more than a couple of Provincial Premiers who have been frauds (there was a hint there) in this regard but those parents who have been paying attention and who care know exactly who those Premiers are.
SO YES...
All over Canada we need to kick start this ability lost by many into high gear.
Will that happen??
Well.. Looking around the lack of this critical skill is to the advantage of the many, at all levels of Government who WOULD CONTROL.
I agree with the author’s argument but this would mean that many of the current professors would need to be replaced. If they are not teaching critical thinking now it is likely because they don’t have the skills themselves. Merit based hiring would be essential even if it means a few “white” people get hired.
What needs to be done is like the US Administration is currently going to do: scrap the Department of Education. Government should have nothing to do with education. Do homeschooling and let the people and the families themselves look after education from start to finish.
To give a framework, the federal government is not in charge of education, this is administered on a provincial level but the provincial government is not in charge of determining curriculum and that is handled by the teachers union, a body not elected by parents or citizens, and they determine the educational materials to be used to educate students and teachers failing to follow their guidelines are subject to corrective action by the union, jeopardizing their jobs.
The school boards also have input and influence over what is being brought into the local districts. One major issue in Canada though is that with the massively declining birth rates, school board members are now often childless activists who are following their own anti-family and anti-child agendas that they've brought into their local districts, they are being voted in by other childless activists and people with no stake in childrens welfare or wellbeing.
Final authority for child education should always lie with the parents and school boards should only consist of candidates and members that either have their own children in the school system or are grandparents of children in the school system. No childless activist stakeholders should be able to vote for candidates for the local school boards, it should only be parents and grandparents that have a right to vote about how their children/grandchildren are being educated.
School boards and schools have become a breeding ground for activism and ideological training that are diametrically opposed to academia and critical thinking. The government authority should lie only with the creation of laws and those laws should be amended to only parents and grandparents have the right to be involved in decision making for the school systems as to content. Teachers that want to create their own courses or content should approach their local school boards for approval about what they are teaching.
Thank you, Sean. I do agree. I was simply pointing out that government at any level including provincial should not be involved with education. It simply should be parents alone as you pointed out correctly. Teachers should come from the district in which the school is, and only parents, again as you correctly point out should have a say in this. Good teachers teaching good things to our children. Education should always start with the family unit and not work its way up into controlling boards and government institutions. Thank you again.
I agree with you, but who is going to teach the students? I would posit that many teachers are not critical thinkers themselves. You also need some kind of firm basis to compare what you see/hear/read/ to exert critical judgment, otherwise you likely end up following an ideology or some dictate. So who possesses the Truth?
Remember that old expression "The Truth is in the eyes of the beholder".
To be fair, it is a fair comment that your truth may not be mine or another's".
... BUT ...
In order to even fairly judge the above would take the ability to think critically, know how to listen, do one's own homework and take input from a number of different sources before deciding on same.
... AND SO ...
To even address your premise we would need to re-education and re-train those who have lost that above ability which sadly is "THE MANY".
There are still more than a few who still know how to, practice it, and could likely teach Critical Thinking if they chose to and were asked.
Will that happen at any point??
Don't know but my guess is NO.
I agree.
This concept got Charlie Kirk assassinated. We are up against an evil in this world that demands indoctrinated conformity.
Bible prophecy being fulfilled?
I agree they should but they won’t because it might threaten their goal of indoctrination. Even 15 years ago there was contempt for trades and climate hysteria and trans ideology is taught often too. Critical thinking would undermine it all.
Young minds are easily manipulated.
Schools are no longer learning centres, they have been slowly taken over by the evil in this world and have become centres of mass indoctrination.
How long before Canada has its own version of the Brown Shirts?
Critical Thinking? In the Banana Republic of Canada, is that even possible?
Becoming less likely, the old birds are dying off.
Banana Republic? C'mon now. It's way too cold in Canada to grow bananas. We can, however, run our entire transportation system on electric vehicles - without even a power grid to support them. It's almost magic!
So, not a Banana Republic, more like a Magical Unicorn Rainbows and Sunshine Republic.
Banana Republic,: a nation, dependent on foreign income or the injection of foreign capital. yeah I’ll stick to Banana Republic
No. too late now.
Great article, I agree wholeheartedly, but you failed to mention the teaching methods, or should I say indoctrination methods, goes well beyond our education system. I am 62 yrs old and I know many people in my age group that do not or can not practice critical thinking. One of the most indoctrinated group's in Canadian society are govt people, at all levels, these weak minded people have allowed themselves to become brainwashed. Again, it is not just the last couple of generations, I know many gen x and boomers who are truly walking stupid. Our education system obviously practices indoctrination, but also govt and most business leader's. How many of you have worked for a small, medium or large business that did not allow you to think for your self? I know most of my career, which included approx. 4 career changes, I found the majority of business leaders were autocratic to the core. So, here is my critical thinking: Socialism does not work, it teaches and creates dependence on the govt and business leaders, proof? Just look at today's Indians in Canada, they couldn't survive another couple of decades without the tax payers money. And look at our Canadian safety net: the majority of people relying on govt handouts for survival is not only absurd, but also embarrassing to a hard working, blue collar, successful Canadian, like myself...no excuses accepted here! Canada is not a polite society, Canadians are apathetic and compliant and the past 150 yrs has created today's problem. I for one have always questioned authority, which has lead to many confrontation's in my life; school, in my professional life and my social life. I have been kicked out of school, fired from jobs and lost friends, but today I am comfortably retired (at age 59, with a 2 yr college diploma) and I do not follow the consensus, at any cost. People call me many names, but I never here them accuse me of having conviction, honesty or integrity. So yes, our apathy and compliance is a great tool for all authority to abuse. Canadians cannot blame anyone but themselves for today's messed up/evil/dangerous society, our children, grandchildren and great grandchildren are going to suffer because of our apathy and compliance. Don't believe me? Just look at the scamdemic, Canada is one of the top nations with the highest population which allowed themselves to be coerced into an unproven vaccine! If that doesn't say it all about Canadians, I do not know what will. Why would anyone, with a sound mind follow any govt official? Any and all govt's today, DO NOT have your best interest in mind! I am a conservative, but I am not religious, I have a similar opinion concerning religion as well and humanities history can support my theories.
100% nailed it, I have followed a path very similar to yours, lived in 4 countries during my 59yrs (Uk, Australia, USA and now Canada), have never trusted politicians or the government whom which have never made my life better, I don't take kindly to authority, which is basically people who try to corral and coerce to wield power for their own gain. I have morals although I'm an atheist and I treat people how I would like to be treated but treat those who are arseholes with the contempt they deserve.
I have worked hard and reaped the rewards (despite several restarts from nothing, no aid from any government branch and being taxed to oblivion) and am now also retired. 3 of the 4 countries are sliding into the abyss of Marxism, the USA has had a lucky escape...for now. People need to wake up but I fear by the time they do it will be too late.
Excellent comment, it describes a lot like my own beliefs.
We must teach students HOW to think, not WHAT to think.
How to think is education while what to think is indoctrination.
I totally agree but who is going to teach them???
Canada needs a TOTAL REGIME CHANGE. Instead Carney continues to lie, cheat and steal... And warmonger!
There are some but fewer professors that allow debate contrary to their personal feelings. Almost 30 years ago my university enrolled son wrote a somewhat brilliant and humorous biographical essay on a relatively obscure, homey and elderly Mississippi Blues singer named “T Model Ford”. It included direct quotations from this gifted Black man who grew up in the Littlerock era. The quotes included T Model’s observations and defense of a relationship with a White woman among other non progressive life experiences. The white female prof ( who was unknowingly married to a black man) gave him a D grade but another white female prof guided him to challenge the grade on his A essay that was elevated to a B+. It didn’t get the A so as to not overly embarrass the progressive prof but the bio was published in the University’s journal. The original D grade was based on discrediting the life experiences of a man from a different era. This is very much like the discrediting of the American author Mark Twain and more importantly our creator of Canada Sir John A MacDonald by well meaning progressives who can’t tolerate different views from different eras. It is time to return to actual debate where two opinions are presented and the debaters flip a coin to see which side they are to defend.
Yes! Among other life skills, like effective communication.
Not to be confused with Critical Theory, which is Marxism.
Russo is quite right on this subject. The younger generation has no idea how to figure things out on their own. It's all memorized. Anything outside of that memorization, they're are totally blocked. And I see that as a result of teacher replacement with computers and cell phones or cellular devices. They are not taught to think with their brain, they are taught to rely on the their electronic gadgets. If they get caught in a situation without them, most of them are totally screwed.
Critical thinking is the enemy of a state that's end goal is totalitarian rule, sheep are easy to herd and control. Canadian learing institutions have been overrun with leftist idealogy spewing boards, teachers and faculty who are indoctrinating young minds to accept total government control over every aspect of their lives. They are being taught anticapitalist views and have absolutely no idea that capitalism is what built the world we have today, they think it is a bad thing because they have never been taught, (convieniently and by blatent omission), what previous and current socialist and communist (Marxist) regimes do to their citizens to remain in power. Marxism has contributed absolutely zero to the world socially or productively but has killed vastly more people in the last 120 yrs than all wars put together, an evil idealogy sugarcoated by sick liberals, who are the exact polar opposite of what being liberal or a liberalist actually is. Elbows up🤡
We could learn from great skeptics (Pyrrho, Aristotle, Sagan, Hume, etc) as exemplars of critical thinkers. Let’s not perpetuate skepticism as a negative.
It is unfortunate in this information age we are raising children with no ability to actually think.
So true, we need critical thinking, but without being referred to nazis or commies or any other hateful comments! Freedom of speech is necessary and people are welcome to have different opinions and espouse them freely.
Robin the Rebel