August 27, 2008 By A. Gaffar Peang Meth
Guam Pacific Daily News
At 64, I am still learning every day, and as an educator, I will always champion students' right to a quality education. Martin Luther King Jr. once said, "The function of education is to teach one to think intensively and to think critically."
My focus on critical thinking relies on the Foundation for Critical Thinking as a primary source. The foundation describes critical thinking as "a core social value" and "a requirement for economic and social survival" in the 21st century. It's a "mode of thinking about any subject, content or problem in which the thinker improves the quality of his or her thinking by skillfully analyzing, assessing, and reconstructing it, and asks "essential questions" to deal with what is "necessary, relevant, and indispensable to a matter at hand."
Those who have read my columns know that I am prone to warning against the usual traps that befall humans, such as denial, blaming, gossiping, arrogance, among others. And I usually end up returning to thinking as the key to one's future, and to "living in goodness" as a basis of society.
I applaud the non-partisan Cambodian non-governmental organization in Phnom Penh, the Youth Resource Development Program, www.yrdp.org, which provides non-formal education to third-level college students (high school graduates in special cases), on "critical and analytical thinking skills" necessary to become "committed citizens" and "active members of society."
Founded in 1992 and formalized as an NGO in 1999, the program is located in Khan Tuol Kork, Cambodia. It says students come to its program "by word of mouth," and pay no tuition.
YRDP defines as its mission, "to strengthen Cambodian youth by developing their social conscience and awareness and by encouraging them to take responsibility for their own future, the future of their own family, their society and their country." It describes its program goal "to empower youth and strengthen their life skills, critical and analytical thinking ... to raise self-confidence, foster a sense of responsibility and enable youth to participate actively in building a culture of peace, justice and the sustainable development of Cambodia."
Some readers say peace is "a state of mind," but the generally accepted human aspirations for contentment, good health, and a level of economic self-sufficiency can't be attained in a world of chaos and disorder where the strong devours the weak. It follows that unless there's justice, there's no peace. Without that foundation, economic development can be little more than a mirage.
For YRDP, "implementing critical thinking in daily life" is the way to "improve quality life." And so, YRDP offers training courses in two parts: the required "core skills" concentrate on personal development ("The future of your country and the quality of your life depend on the quality of your thinking; if you want to change your life, change your thinking") and specific skills include a range of courses participants can select.
"As human beings, ... we cannot avoid conflict or problems, ... but we are able to manage and solve them, ... as a step to building peace," according to the course description on conflict and resolution. In its "active non-violence" course, YRDP aims to provide "skills, strategies, and lessons" by examining the "successful experiences" of people such as Mahatma Gandhi, Moha Ghossananda, Aung San Suu Kyi, "to encourage youth to find effective solutions for promoting peace, justice and development."
Among other training courses, YRDP offers leadership and good governance, values within society ("What could we change in Khmer culture to bring better peace and justice in Khmer society?"), democracy and governmental systems.
The "participatory and experiential methods of learning" (field practice) by students are used for each course; facilitators and trainers are university graduates trained in critical thinking and participatory education methods.
The program acknowledges that more than 30 years of warfare has befallen the Cambodian people and has hampered the nascent efforts to create and enforce "law, social justice, accountability, participatory decision-making, transparency and equality."
"Most Cambodian people do not well understand the application of democracy," and "there are many barriers" that include "threats, killings and arrests," a situation that "scares people from implementing their rights, and affects young people in speaking out about their concerns and needs."
YRDP sees its training course on democracy and governmental system as one that will "enable young people to learn to be good citizens in a democratic society through exercising their rights in appropriate ways."
This relatively young NGO is doing the Khmer nation a great service by stimulating the youth to engage in higher level thinking as they work to achieve peace, justice, and development in a country whose citizens have longed for progress for decades.
California's Foundation of Critical Thinking and Cambodia's YRDP may be many miles apart, but they share similar vision and philosophies.
The Foundation posits, "a mind with no questions" is intellectually dead as it doesn't proceed and doesn't process. It counsels, "keep asking new questions" to arrive at the "vast panorama of possible answers" from which to choose.
The power of ideas to foment change and achieve a "good" society should not be discounted.
A. Gaffar Peang-Meth, Ph.D., is retired from the University of Guam, where he taught political science for 13 years.
My focus on critical thinking relies on the Foundation for Critical Thinking as a primary source. The foundation describes critical thinking as "a core social value" and "a requirement for economic and social survival" in the 21st century. It's a "mode of thinking about any subject, content or problem in which the thinker improves the quality of his or her thinking by skillfully analyzing, assessing, and reconstructing it, and asks "essential questions" to deal with what is "necessary, relevant, and indispensable to a matter at hand."
Those who have read my columns know that I am prone to warning against the usual traps that befall humans, such as denial, blaming, gossiping, arrogance, among others. And I usually end up returning to thinking as the key to one's future, and to "living in goodness" as a basis of society.
I applaud the non-partisan Cambodian non-governmental organization in Phnom Penh, the Youth Resource Development Program, www.yrdp.org, which provides non-formal education to third-level college students (high school graduates in special cases), on "critical and analytical thinking skills" necessary to become "committed citizens" and "active members of society."
Founded in 1992 and formalized as an NGO in 1999, the program is located in Khan Tuol Kork, Cambodia. It says students come to its program "by word of mouth," and pay no tuition.
YRDP defines as its mission, "to strengthen Cambodian youth by developing their social conscience and awareness and by encouraging them to take responsibility for their own future, the future of their own family, their society and their country." It describes its program goal "to empower youth and strengthen their life skills, critical and analytical thinking ... to raise self-confidence, foster a sense of responsibility and enable youth to participate actively in building a culture of peace, justice and the sustainable development of Cambodia."
Some readers say peace is "a state of mind," but the generally accepted human aspirations for contentment, good health, and a level of economic self-sufficiency can't be attained in a world of chaos and disorder where the strong devours the weak. It follows that unless there's justice, there's no peace. Without that foundation, economic development can be little more than a mirage.
For YRDP, "implementing critical thinking in daily life" is the way to "improve quality life." And so, YRDP offers training courses in two parts: the required "core skills" concentrate on personal development ("The future of your country and the quality of your life depend on the quality of your thinking; if you want to change your life, change your thinking") and specific skills include a range of courses participants can select.
"As human beings, ... we cannot avoid conflict or problems, ... but we are able to manage and solve them, ... as a step to building peace," according to the course description on conflict and resolution. In its "active non-violence" course, YRDP aims to provide "skills, strategies, and lessons" by examining the "successful experiences" of people such as Mahatma Gandhi, Moha Ghossananda, Aung San Suu Kyi, "to encourage youth to find effective solutions for promoting peace, justice and development."
Among other training courses, YRDP offers leadership and good governance, values within society ("What could we change in Khmer culture to bring better peace and justice in Khmer society?"), democracy and governmental systems.
The "participatory and experiential methods of learning" (field practice) by students are used for each course; facilitators and trainers are university graduates trained in critical thinking and participatory education methods.
The program acknowledges that more than 30 years of warfare has befallen the Cambodian people and has hampered the nascent efforts to create and enforce "law, social justice, accountability, participatory decision-making, transparency and equality."
"Most Cambodian people do not well understand the application of democracy," and "there are many barriers" that include "threats, killings and arrests," a situation that "scares people from implementing their rights, and affects young people in speaking out about their concerns and needs."
YRDP sees its training course on democracy and governmental system as one that will "enable young people to learn to be good citizens in a democratic society through exercising their rights in appropriate ways."
This relatively young NGO is doing the Khmer nation a great service by stimulating the youth to engage in higher level thinking as they work to achieve peace, justice, and development in a country whose citizens have longed for progress for decades.
California's Foundation of Critical Thinking and Cambodia's YRDP may be many miles apart, but they share similar vision and philosophies.
The Foundation posits, "a mind with no questions" is intellectually dead as it doesn't proceed and doesn't process. It counsels, "keep asking new questions" to arrive at the "vast panorama of possible answers" from which to choose.
The power of ideas to foment change and achieve a "good" society should not be discounted.
A. Gaffar Peang-Meth, Ph.D., is retired from the University of Guam, where he taught political science for 13 years.
11 comments:
How can stupid people like you think, when you don't have a single brain cell in your skull, stupid?
I like this article.
Mr Gaffar,
You should write a book about your life & works under Son Sann faction
during those years struggling.Thanks.
The truth is always ugly but we need to know and learn from it.To hide the past is ashameful conscious that we always pretent that everything is ok.We should learn what was not OK in the past.You're the one who was involved deeply the event.
Cheers,
Bun H.Ung
Why do you have to leave this dirty language here while other people are trying their best for khmer community. I think either you agree or disagree just appreciate what other do. I see this as jealousy, when one could not do or does not have an intention to help other this is the way he/she express their view. The 8:19 AM learn to change yourself. do not use this kind of language here !!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Critical thinking should be done in the positive way.
O.C.Sophea
The Positive way have to be honest
....to yourself first and share with other people around you.
This " Puthiss " will enlight to make a positive way works well.
yes, critical thinking is very important, and it can distinguish between an educated person or one that is ignorant. it is the life skill like an analyst or an actuary. it is the ability to evaluate the situation that would make sense to a trained person(s). good skill to have. in the USA, there is a course offer called "critical thinking 101" that one can take in a community college or university level. please learn it.
Dear Dr Abdul Gaffar Peang Meth, thank you for your column. May i join Mr Bun H Ung in asking for your memoirs on the period of time when you were in the leadership of KPNLF. Commentators before the Paris Peace Accord look to you as one of Cambodia's rising stars. There must be a reason why you did not do what many in that other party (FUNCINPEC) who betrayed their own party and followers, and are now sitting in the Central Committee of the CPP. Also, by the way, i trust you won't let a few foul-mouthed cowards, who rely on internet anonymity for cover, to discourage you from posting here. As Ravi Zacharias once said, the person who throws mud at others is the first to get himself dirty.
Dear Dr. Gaffar,
It is a blessing to read your article and other comments on it. I am very delighted to hear that many people, especially Cambodian people are more interested in Critical Thinking and Philosophy. Of course, Socrates said "Unexamined life is not worth living." Therefore, thinking plays an important role in everyday living. Many Cambodians have misunderstood Critical Thinking and Philosophy. They don't really know what Critical Thinking and Philosophy are. But it is hard to blame them because philosophy was colored and mispresented in the past in the form of political philosophy rather than the "love of wisdom". Critical Thinking does not mean to criticize without having any ground. Many Cambodian people are afraid of criticism. Some people don't know how to think critically. And some people cannot bear with the criticism no matter it is positive or constructive criticism. Therefore, we should learn a proper Critical Thinking theory and apply it in a right way. I am glad with the work of YRDP and other organizations that try to challenge Cambodian people especially the young to shape their future though having a right thinking. As the Buddha said "we are what we think" and I do believe that the future of Cambodia depends basically on the quality of thinking of Cambodian people.
Cheers,
Chanroeun
A student of Philosophy
www.camcape.org
Dear such writers to give incredible comments,bringing lights to the missing aspect in Cambodia's dialy lives. Perhaps I suggest it's not because people donot like debate or discussing the matters, but is this freedom and rights been protected and promotted??? Any retarded writers here donnot and wishnot to let people speak out the truth and debate to seek the truth at all; We call such conduct as intimidation, suppressing and even the doggy governing officals will kill anyone in their way!!!!!
Say I am wrong the retarded, doggy writers pro-cpp!!!!!!!
To Those Who are Listening:
Critical thinking is very important in every details to which we conduct our daily businesses in this so-called society. But in order to achieve this critical stage of "thinking the right way" one must have a proper education. In addition, the life style of living must also accommodates this education system in order to maximize what is set out to be learned. If you look at the current situations in Cambodia, there are more poor people than the riches, thus these indigenous bodies will have to do what is necessity of them to make ends meet otherwise, they will be facing hunger at the end of the day.
The question is then should be asked who will be responsible for the well being of its citizens? Isnt that the responsibility of the government to do just that?
Food and distribution of wealth are the main issues facing all the poor who are the victims of the state...in this case it would be Cambodians. How can you expect to learn on an empty stomach? How can you learn when your freedom to express is so limited? How can you begin to express when your expression could face retaliation?
These are just some of the questions that Cambodian government must ask themselves. Because they are leaders of the country of Cambodia and they are the People Represetatives. Without the people there would not be any government, thus, it is very crucial for those who are holding power or have the power to change Cambodia for the betterness of the country as a whole. Cambodia is a small country it can be done if all obey Rule of Law.
Thank You
ST
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