Creating a better and more peaceful world through education
Helping students navigate the path to their truth
I have a confession to make. I’m late posting this. No, the dog didn’t eat my homework nor did I simply forget.
I wanted to await the conclusion of my learning experience at the International Baccalaureate Global Conference in Washington, D.C.
Being in D.C. for a few days during the last week of July was remarkable. The conference itself was inspiring and meeting colleagues from across the globe was energizing. Doing so in the Washington environment during tumultuous political times was also eye-opening.
There was such a powerful counterpoint between the unifying global perspective of the conference where we educators embraced the idea that there are many points of view and perspectives and that finding common ground was not only possible, it was mandatory to achieve our mutual objective to create a better and more peaceful world through education. As the 2024 conference theme set out, strong pedagogical leadership and a curriculum to enliven youth inquiry and action equips us as an ecosystem of educators to maximize the potential of every young person we encounter.
Central to our ability to achieve this lofty objective is the need to enable critical thinking skills in even the youngest student. It’s no longer a reasonable expectation that we are able to provide the answer to every issue. What we can do though is help guide students in the relentless pursuit of truth. And, that’s where this gets sticky in today’s often hyper-polarized environment.
My truth may not be identical to yours, and if so, how do we teach truth-seeking practices?
“Above all, don't lie to yourself. The man who lies to himself and listens to his own lie comes to a point that he cannot distinguish the truth within him, or around him, and so loses all respect for himself and for others. And having no respect he ceases to love.” — Fyodor Dostoevsky, The Brothers Karamazov
To help students develop critical thinking skills and find their own path to truth, we employ various approaches:
Encourage Curiosity: Foster a sense of curiosity in students by posing thought-provoking questions and encouraging them to explore different perspectives. By nurturing their natural sense of wonder, we can instill a lifelong desire for learning and discovery.
Promote Reflection: Encourage Walden kids to reflect on their own beliefs and values. By engaging in introspection, they can develop a deeper understanding of themselves and their motivations, enabling them to approach truth-seeking with honesty and self-awareness.
Facilitate Dialogue: Walden creates a classroom environment where open and respectful dialogue is encouraged. By engaging in discussions with peers who hold different viewpoints, students can learn to empathize with others and appreciate the diversity of opinions present in society.
Teach Information Literacy: Equip students with the skills to evaluate the credibility of sources, discern fact from opinion, and analyze information critically. By teaching students how to navigate the vast sea of information available to them, we empower them to make informed decisions and form their own opinions.
Encourage Independent Thinking: Encourage students to think independently and question assumptions. By fostering a spirit of independence, we empower students to challenge conventional wisdom and develop their own unique perspectives on complex issues.
By guiding students on a path of critical thinking and truth-seeking, we can help them navigate the complexities of today's world with confidence and integrity. In a society marked by polarizing opinions and conflicting truths, the ability to think critically and seek truth with humility and respect is more important than ever. As Dostoevsky aptly said, "Above all, don't lie to yourself."
By instilling in students a commitment to self-honesty and intellectual integrity, we empower them to find their own path to truth and contribute to a more peaceful and harmonious world through the power of education.
And that’s just the start of our exploration. Next post…Where has the reasonable middle gone? What is cancel culture? Why we’re determined to help Walden kids fulfill our mission to make good people.