The Decline of Critical Thinking Skills

The episode highlights the significant decline of critical thinking skills in K-12 education over the last 15 years, affecting students both in primary and secondary schools, as well as universities. The host emphasizes that many schools fail to incorporate critical thinking into their curricula, which hinders students' ability to analyze and question information critically. This decline is linked to the increasing influence of social media and texting, which have led to poorer writing skills and decreased curiosity among students. Furthermore, the host suggests that a reliance on standardized curricula, which often contain built-in biases, restricts opportunities for exploration and meaningful discussions in the classroom.