A critical evaluation of the understanding of critical thinking by school teachers: The case of Hong Kong

A critical evaluation of the understanding of critical thinking by school teachers: The case of Hong Kong

• Mok, Ka Tung Francis The Education University of Hong Kong
• Yuen, Wai Wa Timothy The Education University of Hong Kong

Citizenship, Social and Economics Education, 2016

Symposium Journals

2016

• M Teachers & Education for Teachers
  • MH Teacher Evaluation : Teacher Effectiveness

Critical Thinking Aporetic Dimension Context Sensitivity Hong Kong

• Hong Kong

• 1997.7 onwards

• Unknown or Unspecified

There is a strong belief that critical thinking should be cultivated in schools. But it is not clear how critical thinking is understood by front-line teachers who are given the responsibility of training critical thinkers. Based on a study conducted in Hong Kong, we found that some school teachers were in favor of a “positive” image of critical thinker who is knowledgeable, prudent, being critical to the critics who are ready to criticize, and being constructive after making criticisms. We try to argue that such a positive portrayal, although uncontroversial from a detached point of view, may not be adequate in the context of Hong Kong where a critical stance toward power holders and established interests is badly needed. Without paying due attention to the “aporetic” dimension, such understanding of critical thinking would make it difficult for students to adopt a critical stance to the prevailing cultural beliefs, social values, political institutions, or economic ideologies that merit the greatest attention.
[Copyright © 2016 The Author(s).]

• English

Journal Articles

• 20471734

https://bibliography.lib.eduhk.hk/bibs/fae18ce3

2016-08-08