Americans: Teaching children differing viewpoints is not indoctrination. Teaching them one viewpoint and punishing them for disagreeing is, though

@meJess So, teaching is literally about creating robots that will become willing, unthinking cogs in the machinery of our billionaire-controlled society? How about teaching DIFFERING points of view, like I said, like in the plural?

@Hopelandia teaching points of view is potentially indoctrination if any preference is shown. Teaching facts and methods allows children to decide their own point of view, not pick one from those offered by the teacher.

@meJess that’s ridiculous. If teachers should not be teaching differing points of view and therefore not teaching critical thinking to allow children to think for themselves, then they will essentially become cult members as soon as they leave school.

@Hopelandia Critical thinking teaches you you to have your own point of view based on a method and supported by facts. Teaching critical thinking is specifically not teaching a point of view.

@meJess But you need to make children aware of differing points of view about many things, so that you can teach critical thinking correctly.

@Hopelandia ah yes and you need to interpret the Qoran and the Bible etc to ensure understanding, explaining the points of view in the correct way to ensure all follow the ‘real’ meaning.

Critical thinking provides the information and the skills to detect and dissect such attempts. It is deliberately taught in a manner where religion and politics are not the subject matter.

@meJess OK but critical thinking is about evaluating all viewpoints, including religious or political ones. By exposing kids to other viewpoints we give them the tools to think for themselves and understand different arguments, not just challenge them. Without this exposure, students miss the opportunity to practice critical thinking on real-world issues and develop independent thought. Which is what I said earlier.

@Hopelandia no you said teaching them points of view. That is not teaching critical thinking.

@meJess Teaching, exposing them to viewpoints, it's the same thing.

@Hopelandia ok then, I’ll stop trying to explain the difference

@meJess OK there's a subtle difference, my bad, but are you actually saying that children should never be exposed to different points of view in school?

@meJess


The facts and methods often convey viewpoints.

@SomeMichGuy not if taught correctly

@meJess Riiiiight.

The facts selected and methods have viewpoints.

And never being exposed to viewpoints--! You actually expect everyone to reinvent wheels and come out with no common set of terms, etc.? lol

@Hopelandia There are infinite points of view, the moment you're limiting it to teaching two you're swaying public opinion.

Reason why the USA is in its current state is that it thinks everything can be reduced into red vs blue. Forgetting all the other colors in the drawer.

@meJess Methods includes the skills of thinking, and all skills require practise, including how to recognise a false premise and why it guarantees that an argument is flawed and cannot be true.
Examining ideas and beliefs and examining the facts, pros and cons is a part of that process.
But it needs to be done fairly and thoroughly. It is too easy to cherry pick. Misrepresentation and false arguments are harmful.