Do we want a nation of followers or of thinkers?
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Bertrand Russell said, "Education should have two objects: First, to give definite knowledge - reading and writing, language and mathematics, and so on; secondly, to create those mental habits which will enable people to acquire knowledge and form sound j
We have consistently failed our students on both counts. Worse, the damage we are inflicting on our students is deliberate.
I suggest that, as in Aesop’s fable of the six blind men and the elephant, no one person has access to the whole truth. It is only by understanding others that we can learn. If, for example, scientists of Galileo’s day had listened to him instead of forcing him to “adjust” his attitude, we would have gained from his insights earlier.
We should train, evaluate and promote teachers on their abilities to teach students to calmly question, challenge, probe, analyse and listen to all sides before responding. By so doing, they can see how the status quo can be improved.
In contrast, attitudes like “You can think, but don’t express your thoughts”, as espoused by Deputy Prime Minister Prawit, have no place in school.
We should instead follow Singapore’s example and train our students to question, make their own decisions and thereby improve our country. The alternative is a nation of sheep.
Burin Kantabutra
