Teaching Without Indoctrination: Implications for Values Education

"This book presents a comprehensive, well-structured and enlightening survey of the problem of indoctrination as manifested in scientific, moral, religious and social fields within the context of an intellectual milieu that prides itself in being liberal and democratic. In the craft of intellectual midwifery which she masters, Professor Tan has but one prescription: constant reflection, but not of the solipsistic or sterile kind. Rather, she advocates fearless questioning within the bounds of a community of learning, which is what schools should ideally be, wherein we all recognise ourselves to be at once students and teachers." - Professor Alejo José G. Sison, Rafael Escolŕ Chair of Professional Ethics, University of Navarra, Pamplona, Spain Given the currency of the problem of indoctrination in our modern world, there is a need to have a clearer understanding of indoctrination, the problems it engenders in values education, and the ways to avoid indoctrination in teaching. This book explores the concept of indoctrination and argues that indoctrination refers to the paralysis of one's intellectual capacity, characterised by the inability to justify one's beliefs and consider alternatives. Indoctrination can occur in any discipline, including religion and science, and even in liberal education where students may be indoctrinated, not in the content, but in the style of belief. To avoid indoctrination in civic, moral and religious education, this book suggests that educators, as part of a community of reflective practitioners, adopt a reflective framework that seeks to develop the rational capacity of students within a primary culture. Charlene Tan is Associate Professor in the Policy and Leadership Studies Academic Group, National Institute of Education, Nanyang Technological University, Singapore.