A critical reflection of the word ‘critical’
Equity Corner by Tracie Noriega
June 24, 2024
The word “critical” has been living in my head rent-free for a while now. I have been wondering how people understand it. A Google search for the definition of “critical” resulted in a few examples. I’d like to connect each example to our experience in education.
1. “expressing adverse or disapproving comments or judgments.”
Across the nation, even in California, some people have been critical of what folks might call “woke” education — the notion that students are too aware of social issues and injustices. Those critical of “woke” education have proposed policies on book banning, censoring particular words or phrases, and excluding certain histories from the curriculum. On the other hand, some people have been critical of education saying students should be more “woke,” more aware and conscious of why injustices exist.
2. “involving the objective analysis and evaluation of an issue to form a judgment.”
In 2010 the State Board of Education adopted the Common Core State Standards. The aspect of critical thinking was a huge piece of the new standards. Students should be able to explain their thinking, not just mark the right bubble. According to the document on the California Department of Education website: “The CA CCSS for ELA/Literacy helps build creativity and innovation, critical thinking and problem solving, collaboration, and communication. They set another bold precedent to improve the academic achievement of California’s students. The standards develop the foundation for creative and purposeful expression in language — fulfilling California’s vision that all students graduate from our public school system as lifelong learners and have the skills and knowledge necessary to be ready to assume their position in our global economy.”
As an elementary principal at the time, I remember numerous conversations discussing what critical thinking looked and sounded like. My amazing teachers were already entrenched in cycles of inquiry. During grade-level meetings, they planned for students to analyze different pieces of text. They asked students to do research and find answers to information that might be missing. Fast forward a few years when students had devices in classrooms and at home, with the world wide web at their fingertips, we all engaged in lessons on digital citizenship. Thus, hoping that their critical thinking skills would be in full effect.
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3. “(of a situation or problem) having the potential to become disastrous; at a point of crisis.”
Education is and has been at a point of crisis, especially for BIPOC students. The California School Dashboard continues to show disparities between student groups. There are different viewpoints on what education entails. The definitions of “college, career, and life ready” vary even though the common core state standards say students will, “... graduate from our public school system as lifelong learners and have the skills and knowledge necessary to be ready to assume their position in our global economy.” This is mission-critical for the state of education.
So what do we do? How can we live up to California’s vision for all students?
Building on the work of Gloria Ladson-Billings, Gholdy Muhammed suggests that we teach criticality: “Criticality calls for teachers and students to understand the ideologies and perspectives of marginalized communities (especially Black populations all over the world) and their ways of knowing and experiencing the world.”
So how do we build on critical thinking skills? How do we teach criticality?
Learn what principled ethnic studies is. Teach principled ethnic studies. Lead with principled ethnic studies at your core. Teach and lead for ethnic studies.
Fun fact: The students who benefited from our purposeful lesson designs that applied critical thinking are now in their late teens and 20s. They have been exercising their critical thinking skills, they have been critical about the world they live in. These amazing humans have put those skills into action. They are involved now in various movements: protests, encampments, media campaigns and boycotts; all towards creating a more just society. They give me hope.
Tracie Noriega is ACSA’s senior director of Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Professional Learning.