This article first appeared in Psychology Today, March 21, 2017, written by Stephen Camarata.
Admittedly this article is already over a year old. However, many of Dr. Stephen Camarata's arguments are still presented today as an explanation for a perceived lack of not only critical thinking but also a reduction in grit and resilience amongst Millennials.
What drew me into this particular article was the discussion of the physical effects of learning methods adopted in the 90s. In essence, have parents hardwired their children to be incapable of critical thought.
The article does a precise job of posing this question but strays in its attempt to formulate a complete answer. It begins by looking at teaching/learning methods that stressed rote memorization and recall but then forays into a criticism of helicopter parenting and not allowing children to fail.
I think there is goodness in the debate pertaining to this topic and food for thought found in the article for parents contemplating how to best complement their children’s education while enhancing critical thinking. As with most brief articles, it doesn’t provide a depth of answers, but then again, maybe applying some critical thought is the point.
