The Wolf in "Critical Thinking"

By Jennifer Schroeder

Defending Religious Freedom and Parental Rights

Public schools and textbooks now have a license to control our children's thought process under their favorite phrase, "critical thinking." The definition is well written, but in reality it only opens the door to our children's minds for teachers and textbooks to instill their own agenda. Our children are being ravaged by a two-headed wolf; the current emphasis to teach religion while simultaneously giving teachers the right to lead our children to believe what they deem "rational." More often than not textbooks prove their "rationale" is atheism.

Example: from Houghton Mifflin's "Modern World History," (pg 627) "Human beings are spiritual animals...Men and women started to worship gods as soon as they became recognizably human; they created religions at the same time they created works of art." (see full text )

From "History-Social Science Framework for California Public Schools": http://www.cde.ca.gov/cdepress/hist-social-sci-frame.pdf (this file takes a few minutes to download)

"Students should understand the intense religious passions that have produced fanaticism and war as well as the political arrangements developed (such as separation of church and state) that allow different religious groups to live amicably in a pluralistic society." (pg 23)

These state standards admit RIGHT HERE that the goal is to water down the faith of children. We can believe, just do not believe passionately. "Intense religious passions that have produced fanaticism and war." What about the intense religious passion that has prompted so many to love and acts of compassion? Overwhelmingly the largest charities and free service organizations world-wide stem from passionate religion and faith. But public education sees passionate religion as something to be abolished and is taking steps to do so. It was the passionate religion of our forefathers that shaped the foundation of this nation. To diffuse the passion of religion is not the purpose of public schools. In addition, different religions were already living amicably in a pluralistic society without the help of separation of church and state, as indicated above.

"Students need to understand why a democracy needs citizens who value give-and-take on issues, who do not feel it necessary to go to war over every idea, and who seek the middle ground on which consensus and cooperation can flourish." (pg 39)

There IS a right and wrong, and when something is very wrong, I hope our children become passionate about it. The above sentence is not about peace, it's about dumbing down America. Teaching us to be non-responsive and apathetic. What if Patrick Henry or our forefathers were conditioned this way? What if America sought the middle ground with Hitler? There is such a demand in society to deny right and wrong and to put everything in the gray, but this will not achieve peace, we will become like sheep ready for the slaughter.

Modern textbooks have successfully rewritten American history and we are behaving like sheep in allowing it with an occasional bleating. Under the guise of "critical thinking," textbooks are taking the opportunity to instill their own atheist philosophies and lead our children down any slanted path imaginable. Our children should be learning FACTS, and need protection from the exposure of personal agendas easily blanketed by the term "critical thinking." Our "History-Social Science Framework for California Public Schools" State Standards describes critical thinking as follows:

Critical Thinking Skills

"The skills involved in critical thinking enable students to question the validity and meaning of what they read, hear, think, and believe. Critical thinking requires a questioning mind and a skeptical withholding of assent about the truth of a statement until it can be critically evaluated. While such skills are developed through everyday living as well as by schooling, the history#social science classroom is an especially appropriate setting for developing such skills."

Why is the history-social science classroom an especially appropriate setting for developing such skills? The Houghton Mifflin textbooks are a prime example of how "critical thinking" can be used to promote an agenda. The textbooks are literally saying, "This is a religion and this is how you look at it." The presented religion is not fact based, as openly admitted the goal is to present the positive attributes only, (except for Christianity).

Critical thinking is indeed "especially appropriate" if you are an atheist eager to apply skepticism of religion to young impressionable minds. Would an atheist hope to "critically evaluate" religion with children? Oh you bet.

A far better application of "critical thinking" would be in the classroom of science. Why not teach children to question the truth about scientific theories? In the case of evolution, the "rational thinking" would be most appropriate. Scrutiny of Darwin's theory could prove invaluable. "To reach conclusions of solid evidence" would be a welcome reality check.

"History-Social Science Framework for California Public Schools:" (pg 24)

"This framework proposes that critical thinking skills be included at every grade level. Students should learn to detect bias in print and visual media; to recognize illogical thinking; to guard against propaganda; to avoid stereotyping of group members; to reach conclusions based on solid evidence; and to think critically, creatively, and rationally. These skills are to be taught within the context of a curriculum that offers numerous opportunities to explore examples of sound reasoning and examples of the opposite. The "sound reasoning" as determined by public schools, which often prove opposing to Christianity! This is not the right or place of public schools!

"To detect bias in print"

· The Houghton Mifflin textbook is loaded with previously undetected bias. Obviously public school is incapable of discernment.

"To recognize illogical thinking"

As determined by who? Teachers insist Islam cannot be taught without induction practices, yet teach American history stripped of it's Christian foundation? Public school can't recognize its own "illogical thinking." "To reach conclusions based on solid evidence"

The opener to attack faith. (We walk by faith not by sight) "To guard against propaganda"

Houghton Mifflin's textbooks should be used in courses as examples of propaganda, not history. "To think critically, creatively, and rationally."

Our children already do that. Children are able to make up their own minds if you give them FACTS and not public school programming. "Critical thinking" only gives teachers and textbooks the opportunity to lead them in whatever direction their philosophy dictates. Public schools need to teach our children the FACTS and allow them to form their own opinions. This phrase "critical thinking" might be well intentioned, but public schools do not have the right to play mind games, to lead our children to discern through their philosophies, under their frameworks and guidelines. Public schools are teaching our children to filter everything they are taught through what the school considers "rational." The entity of "public school" revoltingly has deemed itself to be a god, equipped to program our children how to think.

The "thought provoking questions" are asked of children after they are given a biased version of a religion and led to respond the way it slants, repeating and instilling public schools view on it. Our children should be learning FACTS, to the best ability of the school to provide them.

Critical thinking may be appropriate in other applications, but definitely NOT religion. Teachers could not possibly grasp in full different religious beliefs and are not qualified to determine the validity for our children. The word "teach" means to sway a child to conform to the teachers way of thinking, therefore teachers need to be limited to FACTS. In the "Bias in Textbooks" section at BlessedCause.com, HUGE examples can be found where the textbook imposes it's own biased ideas as truth to children. This absolutely must stop. Parents have the right to share faith with their children without public schools atheist philosophies taking advantage of unprotected innocent young minds and imposing atheist or Islam beliefs.

This "wolf in critical thinking" has been ravaging our children for years. The outcry over the editing of our Pledge of Allegiance proved some of us still remember what our nation was founded on, but if we continue to teach our children untruths and "critical thinking," what made this country great will be gone. As the atheist in our local paper stated about omission of God from the pledge, "America isn't ready for it yet. We tried too much too quickly." Atheists working against America and what she stands for have been slowly and methodically dismantling our precious heritage and openly admit their agenda. Will we continue to allow others to "get us ready for it?"