Children to be taught how to spot fake news and 'putrid' conspiracy theories online in wake of riots
Changes to the curriculum could mean schoolchildren analyse articles in English lessons to weed out fabricated stories, learn how to identify fake news in computer classes and analyse statistics in maths.
Bridget Phillipson said she is launching a review of the curriculum in both primary and secondary schools to embed critical thinking across multiple subjects and arm children against "putrid conspiracy theories".
Here’s a good starting point.
It is not true that the function of law is to regulate our consciences, our ideas, our wills, our education, our opinions, our work, our trade, our talents, or our pleasures. The function of law is to protect the free exercise of these rights, and to prevent any person from interfering with the free exercise of these same rights by any other person.
Frederick Bastiat – The Law (1850)
6 comments:
We did an exercise like that in secondary school English. Although an excellent teacher the man who had to mark our efforts was a Labour supporter.
My report was a demolition of many of the stories in a week's worth of the Daily Mirror. It obviously hurt him greatly as he felt obliged to give me top marks. Shows how old I must be to remember a leftie behaving honourably.
Well, if the schools are as effective in teaching 'critical thinking' as they are good English, Maths and Science, I think the result will be that they will be none the wiser.
I don't have a problem with critical thinking being taught in schools - I remember being told, as far back as Prep School, that we should use our brains on every assertion that's presented to us, and think whether it might be correct, or how it might be supported/refuted. Good habit of mind. And genuine understanding of some stats is essential - and essentially absent from most of the population.
As long they are taught to apply these ideas equally to stuff presented in the Grauniad or on the Beeb, or by Government "nudgers" or by the "consensus". In fact it would be even better if they were taught that anyone claiming "consensus" is not scientist but a politician, and therefore to be treated with extra caution or downright disbelief.
Ah, therein lies the rub - as some fellow said once.
It will never happen. A populace capable of critical thinking and assessment is the last thing the current crop of "politicians" want. Why, they might have to lay off some spin doctors and psyops specialists and function in the real world.
dearieme - I hope that didn't trigger the attack on grammar schools.
Tammly - I agree. Our Grandson's GCSE syllabus guide pushes orthodox climate and sustainability mantras as factual information.
Peter - "As long they are taught to apply these ideas equally..."
Yes, therein lies the rub. It wouldn't be like that, faith in consensus is too strong and the culture which valued dispassionate analysis has withered.
Jannie - I agree, global politics and racketeering are too powerful.
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