Critical Thinking 2018: Do Schools Teach Critical Thinking?
Critical thinking has always been an asset. But in today’s increasingly digital and globalized world, robust forms of thinking have become a necessity. With more and more information at our fingertips, we have to be far more discerning about our choices and judgments. But despite the need for more critical thinking, our institutions have not done nearly enough to give students richer thinking tools. In too many schools, critical thinking is not taught to young people. At workplaces, employers don’t do enough to prioritize richer forms of reasoning.
The Reboot Foundation is dedicated to promoting richer forms of thought and to better understanding the state of critical thinking today. With that in mind, the foundation commissioned a survey, which will be conducted each year, in an attempt to better understand shifts in the public’s views on critical thinking and what it means for the future of society.
Key Findings
- While the public believes that critical thinking is crucial, most people believe that schools do not do enough to prepare young people to think more effectively.
- There’s a lack of clarity about when, where, and even how critical thinking should be taught.
- While parents say that they know how to teach their kids critical thinking, they don’t generally practice these skills with them.
- Members of the public say they practice critical thinking, but their behaviors often suggest otherwise, with the lack of critical thinking skills particularly apparent online.
