The Mortality of Critical Thinking

The Mortality of Critical Thinking

In the article “Why Johnny Can’t Think” by Walter Karp the overlooked reality concerning the declining quality of public school education is challenged, arising the topic of what the focal purpose of school should be. Karp introduces the idea that many students are distracted by the heavy emphasis put on the right answer therefore smothering their efforts towards becoming an “effective intuitive thinker”. (16) Furthermore Karp claims overcrowding classrooms demobilizes the teacher’s ability to teach even the most basic skills due to lack of personal attention, therefore producing passive minds unequipped to critically think. Karp initiates students are often subdivided into gifted and non gifted groups, the gifted students are encouraged to think for themselves and taught by the best teachers meanwhile the non gifted students are taught to fill out job applications and given carless attention. I think the purpose of school should be to educate and inform students meanwhile providing them with essential knowledge and developing their full potential. Also I believe that schools should teach students to think critically for themselves, rather than oppressing their views or creativity. School should provide equal opportunities to every student and not discriminate or suppress them into a particular category. In ending Karp advocates that schools suppress a students ability to think and I believe that school should prepare students for becoming competent citizens by emphasizing critical thinking rather than creating docile followers.

Johal 2

Works Citied

Karp, Walter. “Why Johnny Can’t Think.” Harpers Magazine June 1985: 14-20. Print.