Why is Teaching Critical Thinking Important?
After looking at what constitutes critical thinking, it is then prudent to inspect why it is important to teach. These reasons include:
- Improving learning via critical thinking skills ("learning is the most important goal of schooling (Kassem, 2000)")
- Liberating the mind by creating "competent" and "independent" judges (Siegel, 1980)
- Sustaining democracy since critical thought "sustains, builds, and perpetuates the democracy (Abrami, et al., 2008)"
- Providing economic opportunities as "people with well-developed critical thinking skills are in high demand (Willingham, 2008)"
- Enabling people to keep pace with the modern, ever-changing world
Improving Learning
Liberating the Mind
Sustaining Democracy
Not only does critical thought serve individual ends, it is also paramount for creating and sustaining democracy. “A democracy composed of citizens who can think for themselves on the basis of evidence and concomitant analysis, rather than emotion, prejudice, or dogma, is a plus—in fact, it sustains, builds, and perpetuates the democracy (Abrami, et al., 2008).” In order to function properly, a democracy must have citizens who can effectively comprehend and logically analyze the necessary information to make an informed decision. By teaching critical thought we teach people not only how to think, but how to go about gathering and integrating new information. “Future national and global success in business and industry, or so it is said by government in these places, is dependent on the ability of teachers, lecturers and tutors to teach knowledge, skills and attitudes relevant to these generic competencies (Pithers & Soden, 2000).” Teaching critical thought is a necessary prerequisite for creating and maintaining a successful democracy.