Theory of critical thinking put to the test

Re “Critical thinking is critical,” Opinion, Sept. 16

As a retired educator with more than 32 years’ experience, I found Jeff Lantos’ points well taken. With funding tied to test scores, it is obvious that schools would try to do the best they can on the tests. Unfortunately, this may mean “teaching to the test.” As Lantos indicates, real life is more complicated than a multiple-choice test. “Whys” are much more important than “whats” or “wheres,” requiring the student to come to a conclusion. While tests do show some measure of how a school compares with others, they do not indicate the ability of a student to think. For our society to succeed and thrive, people must be able to come to conclusions through some sort of deductive process.

CHARLES W. BUCKMAN

Palm Springs

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When Lantos says “mitigates against Socratic dialogue,” I think he means “militates against.” I hope that Lantos impresses on his students, along with his skepticism of tests, the harsh truth that they will encounter tests in the future. If one wants to become a doctor, he must not on a test confuse “sclerosis” with “scoliosis.” A future engineer must not choose “logarithm” when the answer is “algorithm.” I want my doctors and engineers to have passed standardized tests.

RORY JOHNSTON

Los Angeles