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Let's nourish children's innate desire for inquiry
What is the primary purpose of our schools? From kindergarten on we stream and manipulate the learning process to a set point of view, a set 'belief' system, dictated by whoever is in
power.
The structure of public education today is not about giving all children an opportunity to explore and develop what comes naturally - their innate desire to learn, explore and inquire. Instead it
produces a controllable labour force who have limited or little ability to think independently.
Learning occurs best when the curriculum and methodology promote inquiry and debate, not just simply spoon-feeding a narrow point of view.
If I want my students to become passionate about what they are learning, give them the opportunity to tap into what should be natural for them: inquiry and debate of ideas related to
alternative theories and beliefs.
Concerning the theory of evolution, they could investigate what makes evolution the 'accepted' theory. Moreover, they could evaluate the similarities and differences of various beliefs; they
could look at them from a scientific approach and publish their arguments. This is not to promote an alternative view as much as it is to promote inquiry and thus a stronger sense of
learning.
It is interesting that when 'scientists' say they are open-minded, they get very paranoid when an alternative view is presented. They will use the 'world is flat' argument against any view outside their own. I have to remind them, the best minds of that era thought the world was flat.
It took a few 'alternative views' proposed by thought-provoking individuals who were brave enough to stand up for their beliefs to change that world view. Through inquiry, students may
see the many similarities between creationism and evolution, but neither can be proven. They both require faith in that belief.
CRAIG GIBSON, Sha Tin
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