Young and the restless

Published: 1 Jul 2012 at 00.00
Newspaper section: News

I read that the Republican Party of Texas called for a ban on teaching critical thinking skills in the state's schools because of its "focus on behaviour modification" that has "the purpose of challenging the student's fixed beliefs and undermining parental authority".

As a proud product of the Texas public school system, my first reaction was, ''there's critical thinking in Texas schools?'' But then again that was in the 1990s, and 20 years on, things might have changed. After all, we managed to put into office a two-term president, conqueror and defender of the faith, so there is something definitely great about Texas.

My second reaction was, ''Sure it was about Texas, not Thailand?''

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fundeena
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Discussion 31 : 01 Jul 2012 at 22.4031
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If you think some all powerful deity exists that is concerned about your petty little lives, then critical thinking does not exist for you.
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rubyridge
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Discussion 30 : 01 Jul 2012 at 20.2730
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Discussion #22 Are you an American or yet another Brit criticizing the Republican party.
How would you Europeans feel if we started to tell you all how to vote
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somnamna
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Discussion 29 : 01 Jul 2012 at 18.5829
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These are the things they oppose, they want the churches and the ultra rich in full control, and if you stop the people from thinking, those in power can do whatever they want.

I thought they execute retards in Texas? Well... I am wrong again it seems a lot of them escape and go into politics...
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englishbob
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Discussion 28 : 01 Jul 2012 at 17.4228
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Disc27 and 19... Don't armpits usually come in pairs?
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jacksprat
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Discussion 27 : 01 Jul 2012 at 16.5527
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@discussion 19 - If you think Texas is an armpit, you've never been to New Jersey.
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spiceman
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Discussion 26 : 01 Jul 2012 at 16.1626
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Khun Wangsuda #24, without the Declaration of Independence, would there be the Constitution, the Bill of Right, and the USA? Uniquely to the USA, all 3 founding documents are regarded as the US Constitution itself, as none of them could stand on its own without the others.

"It is impossible to rightly govern a nation without God and the Bible." (Gen George Washington)

So, what do think "the Creator" meant, especially when the USA was found by the Bible-beliving Christians?
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majority
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Discussion 25 : 01 Jul 2012 at 15.1525
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To a very small group of people in any undemocratic society to be reformed, if having to pick one "choice" between rewriting the constitution and reforming the education system, I strongly believe they would rather pick rewriting the constitution. Because they would rather keep playing God using the school text books and system as the "Bible".
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wangsuda
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Discussion 24 : 01 Jul 2012 at 13.2824
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Spiceman #2: It was the Declaration of Independence, not the Constitution. And they were not granted by God, but by their "Creator," a name that stood for all gods of all beliefs.
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oldexp
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Discussion 23 : 01 Jul 2012 at 13.1623
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D#9
Critical thinking - in my eyes - doesn't need intellectual discipline, it doesn't need the best education either.
For a good start it needs parents that allow their children to say: "I think about it", "I don't agree with you", even a "No" should be fine. Then followed by the children reasons for that point of view and hopefully the parents point of view.
Have not seen one Thai family here that would allow this.
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oldexp
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Discussion 22 : 01 Jul 2012 at 13.0322
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Thanks Voranai.
One remark though. The actual American Republicans want to go back to a spot in time, Thailand unfortunately has never looked beyond this spot.
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