There is no Scientist unless He Learns to Think, so Teach Him to Think,

   Critical thinking, I'm thinking, is the essence of a good education. You might forget what you learn in biology. You might not use what you learn in algebra. But, you will use the skills you develop from critical thinking every day of your life.
    And, the person who masters the art of critical thinking becomes a better person. Look at the definition of the term. "The objective analysis and evaluation of an issue in order to form a judgment." If you learn to be objective, you learn to set aside biases.
   So, inject larger measures of critical thinking into our education. When we study history, and social science, and current affairs, encourage the students to analyze the issues and then to express their opinions.
   I would suggest debate has as much call to be a mandatory subject as any except that with it, the student is learning to be an nonobjective analyst. He is learning to think, but in an nonobjective way. There is some value to this, but it is better to teach the student to be objective.
   Maybe have a debate course where they are asked to present both sides of the issue. The person who wins the debate wins it not for being more persuasive on one side of the issue, but on making the best points on both sides of the argument.
   The thinking skills developed in school are the essence of a good education. There will be no inventions without thinking being involved. If our schools spend a good share of the day honing and encouraging thinking skills, of course we will have a more productive education system, one that resulted in better scientists, and wiser business people,.
   If the ability to think is what makes for a good scientist, then one of the most important things in a good education system is to teach the student to think. I suggest, then, that education reform should focus on providing much greater dosages of critical thinking in the class room.