Philosopher Stephen Law says children need to be able to criticise authority in order to grow emotionally and intellectually.

In his Sydney Ideas lecture, to be held at the University of Sydney next Tuesday night, Law, the author of The War For Children’s Minds, will contend that children need to learn about right and wrong and respect for others, but they also need to think for themselves - something that’s lacking in many authoritarian-based schools.

According to Law, “liberal attitudes” to religious and moral education have been blamed for “everything wrong with modern societies”. This has encouraged a move back to more traditional, authoritarian schools, as seen by recent Australian Bureau of Statistics figures that show a significant student shift from NSW State schools to faith-based ones.

He says that rather than fostering positive “values”, traditional schools stifle emotional and intellectual growth and do not encourage children to take responsibility for their own actions.

In his lecture, titled “The War For Children’s Minds”, Law, a senior lecturer at the University of London, will point to “growing empirical evidence” that suggests schools that encourage collective philosophical discussion and critical thinking not only increases pupils’ IQs but also foster emotional and social growth.

Source: University of Sydney