First, read this article. Then, pass it on to other educators. It seems impossible to me that a state could pass legislation that bans critical thinking skills from the public school curriculum. I can’t wrap my head around this issue–just trying gives me a headache. Maybe you’ll have better luck understanding how something like this happens in today’s world in today’s schools. If critical thinking skills aren’t the end game in education, what is? Surely not a meaningless set of factlets that anyone can Google in 2 seconds. And what else is there if you take out thinking skills? What’s left is a whole lot of information and ideas that don’t add up to anything significant, don’t impact learning in a meaningful and personal way, don’t give students a purpose for learning, don’t give us a well-educated citzenry.
Please take a few minutes to read this article and think about the implications whether you live in Texas or not. Then pass it on. As teachers and administrators begin coming back to school in August, it might be a good starting point for professional discussions. What do YOU believe is the primary job of education? What will you do this year to make sure the education of the students in your classroom and schools is rich, complex, and meaningful?
About Ruth Culham
RUTH CULHAM has written more than 40 books and best-selling resources illuminating both writing and the reading-writing connection for countless educators around the globe. Her groundbreaking work with the writing traits and writing from reading is the culmination of 40 years of research, practice, and passion.
Ruth’s most recent books, The Writing Thief: Using Mentor Texts to Teach the Craft of Writing and Dream Wakers: Mentor Texts That Celebrate Latino Culture, are available from Stenhouse Publishers. She also conducts professional development for schools and districts and writes a regular column for The Reading Teacher.
The Culham Writing Company 
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Thanks, Jack! What a lovely compliment. I need to be more diligent with posts. Your kind words will inspire me to do a new one very soon!