We Don't Need No Stinking Thinking

This passage from the Texas GOP platform has been making the rounds for a week or so, most recently showing up in a Valerie Strauss column in the Post:

Knowledge-Based Education – We oppose the teaching of Higher Order Thinking Skills (HOTS) (values clarification), critical thinking skills and similar programs that are simply a relabeling of Outcome-Based Education (OBE) (mastery learning) which focus on behavior modification and have the purpose of challenging the student’s fixed beliefs and undermining parental authority.

Wow. A toxic stew of stupidity and confusion. (Of course, the same could be said of most pedagogical fads and edu-babble...)

There are many other, equally-scary passages in this lunatic document. Here are some examples that showed up on Reddit:

Our policy is based on God’s biblical promise to bless those who bless Israel and curse those who curse Israel and we further invite other nations and organizations to enjoy the benefits of that promise.

American Identity Patriotism and Loyalty – We believe the current teaching of a multicultural curriculum is divisive. We favor strengthening our common American identity and loyalty instead of political correctness that nurtures alienation among racial and ethnic groups. Students should pledge allegiance to the American and Texas flags daily to instill patriotism."

Here's another one Strauss cites:

Controversial Theories – We support objective teaching and equal treatment of all sides of scientific theories. We believe theories such as life origins and environmental change should be taught as challengeable scientific theories subject to change as new data is produced. Teachers and students should be able to discuss the strengths and weaknesses of these theories openly and without fear of retribution or discrimination of any kind.

That might sounds pretty good if you didn't know what it was really supposed to mean. One of the most effective tools of the dogmatist is the differential application of criticism. Typically in high school, you just learn the expert consensus about any given issue. But if expert consensus supports evolution or the view that climate change is significantly anthropogenic...wellsir, then you need to look at all the arguments against the consensus. So that you can...er...think critically about...uh...wait...