Children and critical thinking

[epiphany]

Critical thinking is in my opinion the most important process that children should be taught and from the youngest age possible. The questioning of assumptions, including traditions, authority and accepted "norms" is what builds individuality and drives real change in society. A healthy scepticism and free, enquiring mind, without constraint or concision, should be promoted in order to prevent the inevitable result of feeling powerless over one's life and choices - cynicism.

 

Note, however, that questioning is not the same as resisting or rejecting for the sake of it. On the subject of questioning authority, for example, a child might become stubborn if they lack the critical capacity to see how an externally ordered action could benefit them personally. If they are taught to be open to all forms of coercion, from both nature and man, rather than blindly acceptant which can manifest as over-defensiveness, they may find it easier to see the bigger picture. Without reasoned, critical thinking, children have no option but to build a defence mechanism against what they rightly see as an attack on their personal determination. This manifests as stubbornness and is perfectly understandable and expected given the master-slave dynamic in operation throughout their daily life.

 

Children today are also at great risk, without their critical faculties properly awakened, of slipping into a passive representation of someone else's reality - one in which external agents overbearingly have the ability to mould their personality and desire. These agents may come in many forms - but they are mostly manifestations of what Adorno called the culture industry - a representation of the values that benefit the few, instilled in the many in order to maintain a given status quo. One key example of this is the PR industry in marketing to children - who they once labelled "evolving consumers". They are in the business of creating and shaping desire, to ultimately make children depart from their own sense of self and create a new, improved (more passive and obedient) version reflected in the TV screen.

 

This process clearly follows right into adulthood. We are now encouraged on a daily basis to be someone else or do something "different" that's not really different at all - to live the life of celebrity or to "join the revolution" by buying a ****ing toothbrush. It sounds quite cute and innocent on the surface but, with decades of research behind their marketing techniques, they know exactly how to absorb you into their version of reality (where going against the grain means buying an innovative new product).

 

The question is not whether they effect you personally (most people scoff at the thought of being sucked in by it all), but how they effect an emerging generation of consumers who perhaps have had their critical thinking beaten out of them by an ever increasing deluge of PR swill and a perhaps all too compliant education system.

 

What are your thoughts on children's reactions to the world they are submersed in today? Do you feel they are adequately equipped to deal with what they are bombarded with in a reasoned, critical manner, or are they more susceptible to blind acceptance and passivity than ever?

[Mister M]

I've just finished reading a very good novel by Charlotte Thomas which addresses some of the concerns you highlight - about how industry 'creates' young consumers, and is incredibly adept at playing on young people's fears of being the odd one out and not conforming. Even being 'anti establisnment' is seen as a life style choice that has consumers who buy the outfits wear the correct brands etc.

It's a fascinating area & I don't think there is a precedent in history that can teach us any lessons because technology, internet & mobile phones are very recent.

[Womerry2]

I've just finished reading a very good novel by Charlotte Thomas which addresses some of the concerns you highlight.

 

That sounds interesting, but Amazon is unhelpful - do you have the title, please?

[Mister M]

That sounds interesting, but Amazon is unhelpful - do you have the title, please?

 

Yes its called PopCo

[Womerry2]

Lovely, thank you - found and ordered.

[spooky3]

Critical thinking is in my opinion the most important process that children should be taught and from the youngest age possible. The questioning of assumptions, including traditions, authority and accepted "norms" is what builds individuality and drives real change in society. A healthy scepticism and free, enquiring mind, without constraint or concision, should be promoted in order to prevent the inevitable result of feeling powerless over one's life and choices - cynicism.

 

Note, however, that questioning is not the same as resisting or rejecting for the sake of it. On the subject of questioning authority, for example, a child might become stubborn if they lack the critical capacity to see how an externally ordered action could benefit them personally. If they are taught to be open to all forms of coercion, from both nature and man, rather than blindly acceptant which can manifest as over-defensiveness, they may find it easier to see the bigger picture. Without reasoned, critical thinking, children have no option but to build a defence mechanism against what they rightly see as an attack on their personal determination. This manifests as stubbornness and is perfectly understandable and expected given the master-slave dynamic in operation throughout their daily life.

 

Children today are also at great risk, without their critical faculties properly awakened, of slipping into a passive representation of someone else's reality - one in which external agents overbearingly have the ability to mould their personality and desire. These agents may come in many forms - but they are mostly manifestations of what Adorno called the culture industry - a representation of the values that benefit the few, instilled in the many in order to maintain a given status quo. One key example of this is the PR industry in marketing to children - who they once labelled "evolving consumers". They are in the business of creating and shaping desire, to ultimately make children depart from their own sense of self and create a new, improved (more passive and obedient) version reflected in the TV screen.

 

This process clearly follows right into adulthood. We are now encouraged on a daily basis to be someone else or do something "different" that's not really different at all - to live the life of celebrity or to "join the revolution" by buying a ****ing toothbrush. It sounds quite cute and innocent on the surface but, with decades of research behind their marketing techniques, they know exactly how to absorb you into their version of reality (where going against the grain means buying an innovative new product).

 

The question is not whether they effect you personally (most people scoff at the thought of being sucked in by it all), but how they effect an emerging generation of consumers who perhaps have had their critical thinking beaten out of them by an ever increasing deluge of PR swill and a perhaps all too compliant education system.

 

What are your thoughts on children's reactions to the world they are submersed in today? Do you feel they are adequately equipped to deal with what they are bombarded with in a reasoned, critical manner, or are they more susceptible to blind acceptance and passivity than ever?

 

 

Is this a form of censorship and restricts the freedom of speech?

 

 

The book Diamond Age centre's about an interactive book designed to help a young lady grow up, to avoid naivety, to be aware of the dangers, recognise what's about to happen.

[cressida]

When these 'critical' children grow up I wonder if they'll carry it forward into their relationships, I would guess many a marriage has been broken up by too much criticism

[IAchilleasI]

Children are a reflection of their social and cultural enviroment, made apparent by how readily willing they are to imitate that which is acceptable within their closed social group. Adults are also guilty of this, except it isn't as blatantly obvious. Unfortunately, if the social environment does not practise critical thinking, neither will it's children.

[Bloomdido]

With a revamp of Anglican Faith schools and 200 more in the offing, plus the Islam schools that aren't Ofsted inspected on religious teaching, I think it will be an uphill struggle to teach children to think critically when this process needs to be short-circuited if children are to be force-fed indoctrination.

 

I try to present alternative viewpoints to my children and I abhore the way children are groomed to be comsumers from birth. They are going to inherit a whole heap of mess caused by the way we are being 'encouraged' to live our lives.