Some schools are teaching children how to think for themselves

Sep 14th 2013 | SHANGHAI |From the print edition of The Economist

 

 

 

IN CHINESE classrooms, students rarely question teachers—part of a broader deference to authority in Chinese society. So the growth of Western-style debating in schools and universities, in which participants sometimes argue against prevailing Communist Party policies, can seem incongruous. But interest in such debates is growing.

Many schools, especially in the big cities, have teams that debate, in English and Chinese. Educators say the aim is to develop some of the skills they know are lacking: critical thinking, spontaneity and public speaking. Many students also believe taking part in debating as an extra-curricular activity can help with applications to universities in the West.

[Read the FULL STORY: http://www.economist.com/news/china/21586319-some-schools-are-teaching-children-how-think-themselves-house-believes]