“Education has been reduced to a subsector of the economy, designed to create cybercitizens within a teledemocracy of fast-moving images, representations, and lifestyle choices.”
~ Peter McLaren (2005)
Schools and teachers could be centrally focused on helping students learn to think critically and become productive members of a more well rounded society based on well-being and community connectedness, empathy and compassion. The quote above illustrates several unfortunate truths—in large part our educational institutions have been focused on preparing students to get jobs and become future contributors to strictly economic concepts of ‘progress’.
In many ways our social structures seem to be moving more and more into a state of ‘hyper-drive’ leaving less and less time for deeper thought or contemplation as a societal value. Teaching students how to navigate the realities of the digital age as well as the value of taking ones time to accomplish something meaningful will be important. Learning to be intrinsically motivated is an important skill to cultivate.
In my classroom I plan to foster critical thinking at all age ranges.
Reference
McLaren, P. (2005). Critical pedagogy and class struggle in the age of neoliberal globalization: Notes from history’s underside. The International Journal of Inclusive Democracy. Retrieved from: https://www.inclusivedemocracy.org/journal/pdf%20files/pdf%20vol2/Critical%20Pedagogy%20and%20Class%20Struggle.pdf