Comments on: Teaching Independence http://mtsophiaideas.com/teaching-independence/ - maximizing students' potential so they can change the world Thu, 15 Dec 2011 06:34:40 -0700 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.8.4 hourly 1 By: Mortgage Rate http://mtsophiaideas.com/teaching-independence/#comment-839 Mortgage Rate Fri, 30 Jul 2010 20:46:53 +0000 http://mtsophiaideas.com/?p=307#comment-839 Can you point me to far more articles like this please? Can you point me to far more articles like this please?

]]> By: Angela O'Shaughnessy http://mtsophiaideas.com/teaching-independence/#comment-781 Angela O'Shaughnessy Tue, 13 Jul 2010 21:17:19 +0000 http://mtsophiaideas.com/?p=307#comment-781 Hear, hear! Micah, I appreciate your words on so many levels. On a purely personal, emotional level, I was born on the 4th of July. Though I had no hand in that, I have always been proud of it, and the implications of being an Independence Baby. On another level, the main reason I chose to homeschool my kids was to teach them independent thinking, not following the crowd, but evaluating what they see and hear, as well as helping them form a Biblical worldview. Finally, we studied logic this past year, and probably shall continue with more of that, because I so agree with your statements on argumentation. We actually learned the difference in a discussion, a disagreement and an argument -- none of which are bad unless people start attacking each other. Thanks for the great writing! Hear, hear! Micah, I appreciate your words on so many levels. On a purely personal, emotional level, I was born on the 4th of July. Though I had no hand in that, I have always been proud of it, and the implications of being an Independence Baby. On another level, the main reason I chose to homeschool my kids was to teach them independent thinking, not following the crowd, but evaluating what they see and hear, as well as helping them form a Biblical worldview. Finally, we studied logic this past year, and probably shall continue with more of that, because I so agree with your statements on argumentation. We actually learned the difference in a discussion, a disagreement and an argument — none of which are bad unless people start attacking each other. Thanks for the great writing!

]]> By: Micah Tillman http://mtsophiaideas.com/teaching-independence/#comment-754 Micah Tillman Mon, 05 Jul 2010 00:47:32 +0000 http://mtsophiaideas.com/?p=307#comment-754 One of the most difficult tasks in argument construction is managing your emotions well enough to actually be able to argue, rather than attack. So much of what we need to argue against, for example, is stuff that makes us feel threatened. And when we feel threatened, we get angry. It's a natural human response. Fight of flight! But it's so much more difficult to actually deal with another person's position -- to analyze it and critique it rationally -- when we're in Fight-or-Flight mode. So maybe I should have added, "Teach emotional maturity" to the list. That's a REALLY tough one, but one very much worth doing. One of the most difficult tasks in argument construction is managing your emotions well enough to actually be able to argue, rather than attack.

So much of what we need to argue against, for example, is stuff that makes us feel threatened. And when we feel threatened, we get angry. It’s a natural human response. Fight of flight!

But it’s so much more difficult to actually deal with another person’s position — to analyze it and critique it rationally — when we’re in Fight-or-Flight mode.

So maybe I should have added, “Teach emotional maturity” to the list. That’s a REALLY tough one, but one very much worth doing.

]]> By: Mrs T http://mtsophiaideas.com/teaching-independence/#comment-741 Mrs T Sat, 03 Jul 2010 13:49:24 +0000 http://mtsophiaideas.com/?p=307#comment-741 Micah, You hit on important human dynamics skills- speaking (and understanding truth) and perspective taking. Good human relationships depend on this, as well as nations. Argument construction- that is vital in friend/family relationships, workplace dynamics, politics, and ANY culture change. "Teach them to write"- If we want to truly be culture creators, we have to join the John Lockes and Thomas Jeffersons who have gone before. We need to write GREAT things full of GREAT thoughts from a GREAT God. Great post. Thanks. Micah, You hit on important human dynamics skills- speaking (and understanding truth) and perspective taking. Good human relationships depend on this, as well as nations.

Argument construction- that is vital in friend/family relationships, workplace dynamics, politics, and ANY culture change.

“Teach them to write”- If we want to truly be culture creators, we have to join the John Lockes and Thomas Jeffersons who have gone before. We need to write GREAT things full of GREAT thoughts from a GREAT God.

Great post. Thanks.

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