Critical Thinking and Elementary School Education

• Main Authors: Huang，Hsiang－Ching, 黃湘晴
• Other Authors: Chi, Chien－Chih
• Format: Others
• Language: zh-TW
• Published: 2008
• Online Access: http://ndltd.ncl.edu.tw/handle/49820776265256739310

碩士 === 華梵大學 === 哲學系碩士班 === 96 === Abstract The importance of critical thinking in education has been gradually discovered and emphasized. Universities and colleges have currently started to offer critical thinking courses in succession, and even senior high school started to offer these courses as well. Yet, this may not be enough. Professor Wen Ming-Li of the Department of Education, National Taiwan Normal University, recommends the consideration to integrate critical thinking education into elementary school courses in advance, in order to allow elementary school students to get inspiration from critical thinking education as early as possible. However, the level of maturity in aspects of relationship, life, and recognition toward people are still with great differences between elementary students and university students. Without comprehensive consideration and planned executive measures, it might cause some negative effects for critical thinking to be hurriedly integrated into elementary school courses. This paper will bring up some negative effects which may occur, and its corresponding responsive solutions. The author personally claims that current critical thinking education is not yet applicable for integration into elementary school education due to the negative effects that might occur without the responsive solutions. If the responsive solutions for the negative effects can be overall implemented among each administration unit and three aspects which consist of family, teachers, and students, the author personally claims that critical thinking education can be implemented at senior level in the elementary school. This paper is divided into eight chapters. The first chapter describes the trend of critical thinking. The second chapter particularizes the various negative effects that might occur due to integrating critical thinking education into elementary school education. The problems include conflict between parents and children, difficulty of discipline by teachers and parents, isolation by classmates, influence the study of regular courses, and formation of small groups that are against one another. From chapter three to seven, the paper will bring up responsive strategies for these negative effects. Finally, chapter eight will offer conclusions.