Comments on: Critical Thinking Not Possible Without Content Knowledge http://www.coreknowledge.org/blog/2008/08/11/critical-thinking-not-possible-without-content-knowledge/ Closing the Achievement Gap: Teaching Content Wed, 07 Jan 2009 23:03:40 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.6 By: Robert Pondiscio http://www.coreknowledge.org/blog/2008/08/11/critical-thinking-not-possible-without-content-knowledge/#comment-4436 Robert Pondiscio Mon, 11 Aug 2008 14:21:57 +0000 http://www.coreknowledge.org/blog/?p=811#comment-4436 You got me, John. I was referring to those who argue against a core curriculum, saying that content knowledge is unimportant and that we should be teaching critical thinking skills instead, as if you can divorce it from content. You got me, John. I was referring to those who argue against a core curriculum, saying that content knowledge is unimportant and that we should be teaching critical thinking skills instead, as if you can divorce it from content.

]]> By: john thompson http://www.coreknowledge.org/blog/2008/08/11/critical-thinking-not-possible-without-content-knowledge/#comment-4435 john thompson Mon, 11 Aug 2008 14:01:48 +0000 http://www.coreknowledge.org/blog/?p=811#comment-4435 Whoooo. Hold on a minute. Maybe its just Matthews who is misreprenting Willingham, but will you offer me a dollar for every success I have in teaching critical thinking, and inculcating the habits (which Willingham recommends) so that they are like riding a bike. Teaching critical thinking without facts is impossible, and teaching critical thinking even with facts is far more difficult than many realize. In fact, both Willingham and Matthews imply that even though it is difficult, it remains the goal of education. Changing the subject, check out the Washington Post story on credit recovery (I got it by following A Russ's link today, and then linking to Aug 8, as I recall.) Let's compile some facts and share some critical thinking. How many times did students, parents, and educators say that they liked the online program because it was cheap and easy? Whoooo. Hold on a minute. Maybe its just Matthews who is misreprenting Willingham, but will you offer me a dollar for every success I have in teaching critical thinking, and inculcating the habits (which Willingham recommends) so that they are like riding a bike.

Teaching critical thinking without facts is impossible, and teaching critical thinking even with facts is far more difficult than many realize. In fact, both Willingham and Matthews imply that even though it is difficult, it remains the goal of education.

Changing the subject, check out the Washington Post story on credit recovery (I got it by following A Russ’s link today, and then linking to Aug 8, as I recall.) Let’s compile some facts and share some critical thinking. How many times did students, parents, and educators say that they liked the online program because it was cheap and easy?

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