Episode 60: Conversation with James Nance

The Great Education Struggle

One of the major educational buzz words, today is "critical thinking." The proponents of the Common Core State Standards tought one of the major benefits of CCSS, is that it teaches critical thinking. By like I wrote in"Critical Thinking and Education Reform Called Common Core," critical thinking skills” is a term used in a number of different disciplines, but no one has a clue as to what it means. But it sounds good, which is why education reformers use it. While it sounds good and who would not want to get behind such an idea, the problem is that it is meaningless.

The next time you hear someone from the education establishment start talking about thinking skills, ask him or her to define it. Ask them to give you an example of thinking skills program they would recommend. See what you get.

In episode 60, James Nance, from Roman Roads Media, and I discuss the necessity of teaching real critical thinking skills through the study of formal logic.

James Nance, curriculum development and teacher, received a B.S. degree in Mechanical Engineering from Washington State University in 1984, and after working for Boeing for 5 years, moved to Moscow, Idaho where he taught Logic, Rhetoric, Calculus, Physics, and Doctrine at Logos School for 25 years.

During that time, he developed several curriculums, including the award-winning Introductory and Intermediate Logic. He enjoys teaching, reading, acting, and playing games with my friends and family. He and his wife Giselle have four children: Jamie, Josiah, Jacqueline, and Jonathan.