Private Schools that Emphasize Critical and Independent Thinking

[Anonymous]

Classical schools are pretty much the only ones out there with classes on formal and informal logic, and where debate between both sides is formalized as part of rhetoric. Most of the ones in this area are very Christian, the only other that springs to mind is Wasington Latin.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:St Anselms Abbey. It is really surprising to us as non Catholics how much intellectual independence and critical thinking our son learns and sees there. For the things that limit a catholic education when not Catholic (views on some social issues) we fill in the gap. We have found families to have a wide range of backgrounds and opinions too. Since it is too small for cliques, I have not seen them.

The one common denominator is the "second tier" schools of every style are much better at fostering intellectual independence and critical thinking. The etablishment schools, whether Catholic, Progressive or etc, tend to veer towards groupthink.

I am not sure. The peers are also important.

I still think it has little to do with schools. I grow up in an authoritarian country where I know all histories taught in school were not accurate. But I read a ton. I went to a different country for secondary schools. I think the school matters only to some degree. Family environment, exposing to different cultures and languages (very important), having a solid foundation in STEM and Humanities, peers, late and less exposure to social medias/AI, are more important.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:On this thread, I think progressive schools perform poorly in terms of critical thinking for one simple reason. They do not encourage free exchange of ideas or debates of opposing ideas. They are mostly about blocking dissent. So I wouldn’t be very optimistic with critical thinking in progressive schools.

It’s always the bigots who complain about being silenced at progressive schools.

Critical thinking means they consider your ideas and judge them on the merits. It does not mean they have to accept your biases as equally valid.

[Anonymous]

The Village School in Arlington has a learner-centered model - meaning that children's voices are valued and what they say matters when it comes to their learning/goals. If you value independence and critical thinking, check them out. They are PreK-8, opening a high school in the 2027-2028 school year.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:On this thread, I think progressive schools perform poorly in terms of critical thinking for one simple reason. They do not encourage free exchange of ideas or debates of opposing ideas. They are mostly about blocking dissent. So I wouldn’t be very optimistic with critical thinking in progressive schools.

It’s always the bigots who complain about being silenced at progressive schools.

Critical thinking means they consider your ideas and judge them on the merits. It does not mean they have to accept your biases as equally valid.

Thanks for proving PP’s point. Progressive schools do not invite debate acknowledging that both sides of many political issues have valid points, and encourage students to think critically and be able to appreciate, articulate, and argue from multiple perspectives. Instead, any dissent is “hate.” Backward and the opposite of critical thinking.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Progressive schools do not invite debate acknowledging that both sides of many political issues have valid points, and encourage students to think critically and be able to appreciate, articulate, and argue from multiple perspectives. Instead, any dissent is “hate.” Backward and the opposite of critical thinking.

Isn't there a difference between schools that practice progressive education and schools that have progressive politics? Or is there not?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Progressive schools do not invite debate acknowledging that both sides of many political issues have valid points, and encourage students to think critically and be able to appreciate, articulate, and argue from multiple perspectives. Instead, any dissent is “hate.” Backward and the opposite of critical thinking.

Isn't there a difference between schools that practice progressive education and schools that have progressive politics? Or is there not?

There tends to be an overlap in part because progressive schools are inherently open to challenging the status quo with regard to pedagogical techniques. Children become active participants in their own learning, as opposed to vessels to be filled by higher-status adult teachers, which complicates (but does not eliminate) hierarchical relationships. Not surprisingly, people who are open to this model of education tend to be more liberal politically.
I consider myself to be very liberal politically, but as a long-time professor in the humanities, it really bothers me when I see the policing of ideas from both the left and the right, but more from the left because it is so blindly hypocritical. I send my own children to a well-known liberal and progressive independent school, but I am unhappy knowing that there is definitely an atmosphere where students are afraid to ask or test out controversial ideas--and quick assumptions that clumsy language is ill-intended--because of fear or reprisal from students and faculty.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Progressive schools do not invite debate acknowledging that both sides of many political issues have valid points, and encourage students to think critically and be able to appreciate, articulate, and argue from multiple perspectives. Instead, any dissent is “hate.” Backward and the opposite of critical thinking.

Isn't there a difference between schools that practice progressive education and schools that have progressive politics? Or is there not?

There tends to be an overlap in part because progressive schools are inherently open to challenging the status quo with regard to pedagogical techniques. Children become active participants in their own learning, as opposed to vessels to be filled by higher-status adult teachers, which complicates (but does not eliminate) hierarchical relationships. Not surprisingly, people who are open to this model of education tend to be more liberal politically.
I consider myself to be very liberal politically, but as a long-time professor in the humanities, it really bothers me when I see the policing of ideas from both the left and the right, but more from the left because it is so blindly hypocritical. I send my own children to a well-known liberal and progressive independent school, but I am unhappy knowing that there is definitely an atmosphere where students are afraid to ask or test out controversial ideas--and quick assumptions that clumsy language is ill-intended--because of fear or reprisal from students and faculty.

Having a solid foundation in science, especially natural science and statistics, is good for critical thinking (e.g. navigating the horrible mis information age) and distinguish truth from false in critical times.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Progressive schools do not invite debate acknowledging that both sides of many political issues have valid points, and encourage students to think critically and be able to appreciate, articulate, and argue from multiple perspectives. Instead, any dissent is “hate.” Backward and the opposite of critical thinking.

Isn't there a difference between schools that practice progressive education and schools that have progressive politics? Or is there not?

There tends to be an overlap in part because progressive schools are inherently open to challenging the status quo with regard to pedagogical techniques. Children become active participants in their own learning, as opposed to vessels to be filled by higher-status adult teachers, which complicates (but does not eliminate) hierarchical relationships. Not surprisingly, people who are open to this model of education tend to be more liberal politically.
I consider myself to be very liberal politically, but as a long-time professor in the humanities, it really bothers me when I see the policing of ideas from both the left and the right, but more from the left because it is so blindly hypocritical. I send my own children to a well-known liberal and progressive independent school, but I am unhappy knowing that there is definitely an atmosphere where students are afraid to ask or test out controversial ideas--and quick assumptions that clumsy language is ill-intended--because of fear or reprisal from students and faculty.

Do you ever voice your concerns or do anything besides be unhappy and bothered? Do you ever say anything to your children?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Progressive schools do not invite debate acknowledging that both sides of many political issues have valid points, and encourage students to think critically and be able to appreciate, articulate, and argue from multiple perspectives. Instead, any dissent is “hate.” Backward and the opposite of critical thinking.

Isn't there a difference between schools that practice progressive education and schools that have progressive politics? Or is there not?

There tends to be an overlap in part because progressive schools are inherently open to challenging the status quo with regard to pedagogical techniques. Children become active participants in their own learning, as opposed to vessels to be filled by higher-status adult teachers, which complicates (but does not eliminate) hierarchical relationships. Not surprisingly, people who are open to this model of education tend to be more liberal politically.
I consider myself to be very liberal politically, but as a long-time professor in the humanities, it really bothers me when I see the policing of ideas from both the left and the right, but more from the left because it is so blindly hypocritical. I send my own children to a well-known liberal and progressive independent school, but I am unhappy knowing that there is definitely an atmosphere where students are afraid to ask or test out controversial ideas--and quick assumptions that clumsy language is ill-intended--because of fear or reprisal from students and faculty.

We had a bite of that when last year any criticism of Israeli government is viewed as anti semitism even when one voicing it is Jewish.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Progressive schools do not invite debate acknowledging that both sides of many political issues have valid points, and encourage students to think critically and be able to appreciate, articulate, and argue from multiple perspectives. Instead, any dissent is “hate.” Backward and the opposite of critical thinking.

Isn't there a difference between schools that practice progressive education and schools that have progressive politics? Or is there not?

There tends to be an overlap in part because progressive schools are inherently open to challenging the status quo with regard to pedagogical techniques. Children become active participants in their own learning, as opposed to vessels to be filled by higher-status adult teachers, which complicates (but does not eliminate) hierarchical relationships. Not surprisingly, people who are open to this model of education tend to be more liberal politically.
I consider myself to be very liberal politically, but as a long-time professor in the humanities, it really bothers me when I see the policing of ideas from both the left and the right, but more from the left because it is so blindly hypocritical. I send my own children to a well-known liberal and progressive independent school, but I am unhappy knowing that there is definitely an atmosphere where students are afraid to ask or test out controversial ideas--and quick assumptions that clumsy language is ill-intended--because of fear or reprisal from students and faculty.

Having a solid foundation in science, especially natural science and statistics, is good for critical thinking (e.g. navigating the horrible mis information age) and distinguish truth from false in critical times.

I strongly disagree and would argue that overemphasizing STEM is part of the problem. The humanities are where independent thought is developed and have traditionally been the edge that American education had over China, India et al.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Progressive schools do not invite debate acknowledging that both sides of many political issues have valid points, and encourage students to think critically and be able to appreciate, articulate, and argue from multiple perspectives. Instead, any dissent is “hate.” Backward and the opposite of critical thinking.

Isn't there a difference between schools that practice progressive education and schools that have progressive politics? Or is there not?

There tends to be an overlap in part because progressive schools are inherently open to challenging the status quo with regard to pedagogical techniques. Children become active participants in their own learning, as opposed to vessels to be filled by higher-status adult teachers, which complicates (but does not eliminate) hierarchical relationships. Not surprisingly, people who are open to this model of education tend to be more liberal politically.
I consider myself to be very liberal politically, but as a long-time professor in the humanities, it really bothers me when I see the policing of ideas from both the left and the right, but more from the left because it is so blindly hypocritical. I send my own children to a well-known liberal and progressive independent school, but I am unhappy knowing that there is definitely an atmosphere where students are afraid to ask or test out controversial ideas--and quick assumptions that clumsy language is ill-intended--because of fear or reprisal from students and faculty.

Do you ever voice your concerns or do anything besides be unhappy and bothered? Do you ever say anything to your children?

Of course. This is one advantage of having a parent who is a professor. We have good conversations at home where my kids are free to ask all the questions they want and to test ideas that they are afraid to at school, where they very well may be "cancelled" by classmates and teachers.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Progressive schools do not invite debate acknowledging that both sides of many political issues have valid points, and encourage students to think critically and be able to appreciate, articulate, and argue from multiple perspectives. Instead, any dissent is “hate.” Backward and the opposite of critical thinking.

Isn't there a difference between schools that practice progressive education and schools that have progressive politics? Or is there not?

There tends to be an overlap in part because progressive schools are inherently open to challenging the status quo with regard to pedagogical techniques. Children become active participants in their own learning, as opposed to vessels to be filled by higher-status adult teachers, which complicates (but does not eliminate) hierarchical relationships. Not surprisingly, people who are open to this model of education tend to be more liberal politically.
I consider myself to be very liberal politically, but as a long-time professor in the humanities, it really bothers me when I see the policing of ideas from both the left and the right, but more from the left because it is so blindly hypocritical. I send my own children to a well-known liberal and progressive independent school, but I am unhappy knowing that there is definitely an atmosphere where students are afraid to ask or test out controversial ideas--and quick assumptions that clumsy language is ill-intended--because of fear or reprisal from students and faculty.

Having a solid foundation in science, especially natural science and statistics, is good for critical thinking (e.g. navigating the horrible mis information age) and distinguish truth from false in critical times.

I strongly disagree and would argue that overemphasizing STEM is part of the problem. The humanities are where independent thought is developed and have traditionally been the edge that American education had over China, India et al.

That is your opinion. Both are highly important.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Progressive schools do not invite debate acknowledging that both sides of many political issues have valid points, and encourage students to think critically and be able to appreciate, articulate, and argue from multiple perspectives. Instead, any dissent is “hate.” Backward and the opposite of critical thinking.

Isn't there a difference between schools that practice progressive education and schools that have progressive politics? Or is there not?

There tends to be an overlap in part because progressive schools are inherently open to challenging the status quo with regard to pedagogical techniques. Children become active participants in their own learning, as opposed to vessels to be filled by higher-status adult teachers, which complicates (but does not eliminate) hierarchical relationships. Not surprisingly, people who are open to this model of education tend to be more liberal politically.
I consider myself to be very liberal politically, but as a long-time professor in the humanities, it really bothers me when I see the policing of ideas from both the left and the right, but more from the left because it is so blindly hypocritical. I send my own children to a well-known liberal and progressive independent school, but I am unhappy knowing that there is definitely an atmosphere where students are afraid to ask or test out controversial ideas--and quick assumptions that clumsy language is ill-intended--because of fear or reprisal from students and faculty.

Having a solid foundation in science, especially natural science and statistics, is good for critical thinking (e.g. navigating the horrible mis information age) and distinguish truth from false in critical times.

I strongly disagree and would argue that overemphasizing STEM is part of the problem. The humanities are where independent thought is developed and have traditionally been the edge that American education had over China, India et al.

That is your opinion. Both are highly important.

+1. There need not be a choice between STEM and the humanities and social sciences. All are important, and children must be trained to understand how different disciplines interact and can be used to more fully understand the other.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:We're considering shifting our son to private school for middle school and high school. As a family value, we care about schools that emphasize independent and critical thinking rather than just "accepting" what one is told. We also value hard work and children learning that it is okay to go "against the mold" and pursue one's passions (e.g., it's okay to try starting a business before/instead of college; it's okay to make mistakes and pivot).

As we're starting to explore private schools, many of them tell us they promote independent and critical thinking. Do people find that is universal at private schools? Or are they just telling us what we want to hear? We're in Bethesda and we have easy access to the beltway and could go into DC and Virginia or stay in Maryland. Any private schools people recommend we check out?

Thank you in advance!

LOL you just described public school.