Start with a joke

? There is a joke that is touching. One year, the United Nations asked children around the world a question: Please share your views on how to solve food shortages in other countries.

After reading the question, African children asked: What is "food"?

European children asked: What is "shortage"?

Latin American children asked: What is "please"?

American children asked: What are "other countries"?

Children in the Middle East asked: What is the "solution"?

Chinese children asked: What is "one's own opinion"?

Chinese children often get a standard answer or an official statement, and gradually lose their critical thinking ability. We often use "obedience" to ask and praise children, as if listening to elders and teachers will avoid many detours, make no mistakes, and avoid going astray. The herd mentality of Chinese people is very common, and it is easy for adults to form unified opinions and ideas. In Chinese classrooms, teachers often speak eloquently while students eagerly wait to be fed. Where are the opportunities for students to speak?

Mr. Ding Zhaozhong, the Nobel Prize winner in Physics, said: Traditional Chinese education does not pay attention to the true investigation of things and the pursuit of knowledge. This may be because the purpose of traditional education is not to seek new knowledge but to adapt to a fixed social system. "The Great Learning" itself says that the purpose of studying things to gain knowledge is to enable people to achieve sincerity, upright mind, self-cultivation, orderly family, country and land, thereby pursuing the highest ideal of Confucianism - peace in the world. Because of this, the true meaning of studying things to gain knowledge has been buried.

? He said: I grew up with a traditional education. When I studied physics at an American university, I initially thought that as long as I "worked hard" and followed the teacher's instructions, everything would be smooth sailing, but this was not the case. As soon as I started doing research, I immediately realized that I couldn’t just rely on teachers, I needed to make my own decisions and come up with ideas. I didn’t know how much hardship I suffered because I wasn’t prepared in advance. What made me most hesitant and panicked was that the only way at that time - to immerse yourself in reading to cope with everything, was of no help to the actual needs.

Therefore, we say: reading is the first step, thinking is the second step, and sharing is the third step. It is very important to cultivate children's independent thinking ability. If others follow others' opinions, there will be no innovation and development, and it will not be conducive to the cultivation of innovative talents.