> Indeed. But critical thinking and creativity are the things second least prized in US classrooms, right after outright disobedience. Really? I never got dow

> Indeed. But critical thinking and creativity are the things second least prized in US classrooms, right after outright disobedience. Really? I never got downgraded for giving an answer that the teacher disagreed with, rather I was given good marks for being able to clearly present my side of a discussion. For the classes I took that were subjective, History, English (in regards to literary critiques), etc, it was made quite clear that what was most valued was our ability to made a well reasoned and well thought out argument. I had teachers who would frequently play devil's advocate and argue against any position a student took up, with the same teacher taking opposite sides of an issue for sequential questions asked. Highlights of Middle School include debating the supremacy of Roman versus Greek societal structures, studying major world religions past and present, and lots long form essays. High School and College history classes consisted of "well here is the truth about stuff, yeah it is nasty" and the breaking down of nearly every beloved trope and fetishism of American supremacy. But that is just my experience going through public school. :) (And of course anecdotes aren't worth much, but I don't think there is any sort of nation wide conspiracy to undermine critical thinking!)