Stephen Law - Live Lecture 6 June, 11:30am PDT
Best-selling UK-based author and philosopher Stephen Law argues that authoritarian and religious schools are not necessarily the answer to raising good children. Stephen Law, the author of The War For Children's Minds, explains that children need to learn about right and wrong and respect for others, but they also need to think for themselves - something that's lacking in many authoritarian-based schools.
According to Law, "liberal attitudes" to religious and moral education have been blamed for "everything wrong with modern societies". This has encouraged a move back to more traditional, authoritarian schools. He says that rather than fostering positive "values", traditional schools stifle emotional and intellectual growth and do not encourage children to take responsibility for their own actions.
"Moral responsibility is like a boomerang," Law says. "Try to throw it to someone else if you like, but it always comes back to you. Schools that insist young people can and should hand this responsibility over to religious experts are fooling both their students and themselves."
In this lecture, Law points to growing empirical evidence that suggests schools that encourage collective philosophical discussion and critical thinking not only increases pupils' IQs but also foster emotional and social growth.
Watch Stephen lecture on the topics in his book.
http://openhabitatproject.blip.tv/
