The fundamental task of education is not to instill knowledge, but to cultivate the "habit of thinking." In an age of information explosion, teaching children to question and discern is more important than having them memorize facts. "Knowledge" is static, accumulative information, while "the habit of thinking" is a dynamic, generative ability. The former is like goods in a warehouse, and the latter is the tool to navigate those goods; the former can be measured in standardized ways (such as exam scores), while the latter manifests as an individual's mental vitality.
View Original
This page may contain third-party content, which is provided for information purposes only (not representations/warranties) and should not be considered as an endorsement of its views by Gate, nor as financial or professional advice. See Disclaimer for details.
The fundamental task of education is not to instill knowledge, but to cultivate the "habit of thinking." In an age of information explosion, teaching children to question and discern is more important than having them memorize facts. "Knowledge" is static, accumulative information, while "the habit of thinking" is a dynamic, generative ability. The former is like goods in a warehouse, and the latter is the tool to navigate those goods; the former can be measured in standardized ways (such as exam scores), while the latter manifests as an individual's mental vitality.