No, ‘Absolutism and the Echo Chamber’ is not the title for a new Harry Potter book or film, but rather a sign of the times and something that as teachers and parents we have to help our children navigate on the way to the healthy and thriving adulthood we all want for them.
So, how do we help our children maintain an open mind that is healthily sceptical of what they see, read and hear? How do we help them to grow up with those critical faculties that help them maintain balanced perspectives aware of different points of view, nuance and complexity?
Bombarded with information in a digital age, all of us are navigating a labyrinth of conflicting advice, ideologies and absolutes, and we often find ourselves trapped, sometimes without even realising it, in an echo chamber that reinforces our pre-existing beliefs. The danger of this absolutism lies when it becomes part of the every-day to such an extent that it hinders the critical thinking skills so crucial to navigating this complex terrain.
As we all spend more time online consuming content tailored by algorithms to our existing beliefs, children run the risk of adopting more extreme positions without even questioning them. This threatens not just individual development but the very foundations of a democratic, civil society based on the free exchange of ideas.
In today’s partisan times, teaching children to think flexibly may seem a daunting task. Here at Albyn a key approach of each child’s educational journey, whether that comes through our assembly programme, our PSE and Civics courses, or through many of our core curricular subjects, is to encourage our pupils to develop self-awareness and empathy.
Helping them to take a step back from polarised debates whether that is on the Israel-Palestine conflict or the efficacy of vaccines or the safety of vapes. The school environment also exposes children to the different views of their classmates and teachers, with pupils here at Albyn having daily opportunities to overcome insular thinking patterns because of our diverse and highly international community.
As parents, we can be allies in this mission by promoting inquisitiveness, self-questioning and fairness at home. If children learn to consciously separate opinion from fact and emotion from reason, we give them the tools to cut through rhetoric. Helping our children and young people avoid group-think is also important. This is best done by encouraging children to be themselves and not to worry too much about what others think of them. Helping them to be the best version of themselves or encouraging them to ‘be themselves with skill’ as I often say.
Vital, also, is giving them opportunities through such co-curricular opportunities as Model United Nations or Debating to express their views; supported by evidence, of course, but aware, also, that there are other views and often other ‘truths’ out there too. Promoting understanding and an acceptance that there are different views is especially important with regard to political or social issues where there are good arguments on multiple sides. One might call it ‘respectful disagreement’.
As parents, we can help by fostering an atmosphere at home where doubt and debate are encouraged as this helps develop critical faculties. A useful and simple habit is to consistently ask “What makes you think that?” when a child states something as fact. Gently requesting evidence also teaches intellectual humility as well as not to make claims without proof. This applies equally to the views children parrot from social media influencers, outspoken classmates, or even their parents! No single source should be accepted unconditionally without fact-checking.
Critical thinking skills developed through the Sciences and Social Sciences involves actively seeking diverse perspectives, questioning assumptions, and being open to alternative viewpoints. The ability to discern credible information from the noise of conflicting advice is a vital tool for navigating the challenging landscape of the adult world that is to come for our young people. I like to call this skill ‘discernment’. It has never been more important.
Many of the challenges we are educating our young people to grapple with do not have a single correct answer that can be found at the back of the book! They are complex, multifaceted and not fixed in time. So, let’s embrace the nuanced, foster open-mindedness, and nurture our critical thinking skills, letting them empower our children to make informed decisions in an ever-evolving world.
With skill, and a bit of luck (!), their generation may craft a public discourse driven by nuance rather than absolutism. The stakes are no less than the future rationality and wisdom of our society and democracy. If we succeed, our children will enter the world as independent-minded citizens capable of raising the level of public debate. That possibility alone should inspire us as parents to foster self-aware, flexible habits of mind in our children.
Join us at our next Open Day on Friday 15 December to learn more about Albyn School and the fantastic opportunities we offer children aged 2 to 18. Register at www.albynschool.co.uk