Developing Critical Thinking, the Main Goal of Education

Great educators put emphasis on thinking and cultivating it as one of the main aims of education (Shariatmadary, 2003, p. 379; John Dewey (1916-1966); & Jonson, 2002, p. 102). Educational systems should provide conditions to cultivate children's thinking. Instead of simply transferring information to them (Shabani, 2003). Thinking and more specifically critical thinking, however, do not cultivate by themselves. Rather it needs to be instructed and practiced (Powell and Older, 2000; Andolina 2001; Shabani, 2003). This article will take into account the nature and components of critical thinking and also ways to instruct and cultivate it in school children.