Coming soon...
To honour its 10 years of active life, IHEYO will publish a book entitled ‘Critical Thinking in Humanist education: an overview of best practices Worldwide’. The publication will reflect on 10 years international and national experience within young humanist leaders around the globe. And it will highlight some of the humanist educational practices developed in different countries.
The book is going to be a practical and inspirational tool for groups and individuals around the world on how to empower children and youth to be critical thinkers. This can be done in class, but many youth humanist groups do this in non-formal educational settings such as camps, informal discussion groups, through online forums, etc. This book offers valuable information for both.
in 2012 IHEYO celebrated its ten years of existence in its latest reincarnation. To honour its 10 years of active life, IHEYO will publish a book entitled ‘Critical Thinking in Humanist education: an overview of best practices Worldwide’.
The publication will reflect on 10 years international and national experience within young humanist leaders around the globe. And it will highlight some of the humanist educational practices developed in different countries.
The book is going to be a practical and inspirational tool for groups and individuals around the world on how to empower children and youth to be critical thinkers. This can be done in class, but many youth humanist groups do this in non-formal educational settings such as camps, informal discussion groups, through online forums, etc. This book offers valuable information for both.
The power of people to take their own reasoned decisions is one of the core principles of humanism. It is based on the idea that people are able to be responsible for themselves and their life. It is also the moral belief that we should make our choices in a way that provides every one the tools and respect to make these responsible decisions freely. IHEYO aims to stimulate young people’s ability to choose and think for themselves, being more skilled and aware of themselves and their surroundings. Teaching critical thinking is a red thread in IHEYO’s existence. The book is divided into three sections:
- One section explores the different international concepts of critical thinking, within the humanist circle and in academia. Critical thinking is not the same as rational thinking. In our conception critical thinking is about awareness; it is about the ability to follow our path in life. We also explore in this chapter the pitfalls of our mind and the limits to rational thinking. Knowing our possible limits and pitfalls will help us make better choices.
- The other section focuses on teaching critical thinking from a humanist perspective. We review some of the didactic principles behind humanist education and give practical methods to use. In different countries, there are methods for humanist education developed (the Netherlands, Belgium, UK, Germany and USA).
- The third section is spread throughout the book. It is a collection of best practices of humanist teaching of critical thinking. The experience of ten years IHEYO will be reviewed. And many good practices of local and national humanist groups and organizations will be shared. There will be a focus on the second and third section of the book, making the book a real tool-book.
In terms of practices, the book will focus on international and national youth and children’s camps, managing volunteers, humanist empowerment in Africa, poverty eradication and humanist empowerment in India, humanist schools, magic uncovering, secular civil services, social media and theatre play, among others.
Many humanists recognize the importance of critical thinking and free inquiry in education. One can find courses and methods for this in countries such as the Netherlands, US, India, Germany, Belgium, Nigeria, etc. And there are non-formal educational activities in many other countries that stimulate young people to think and formulate for their own, like in Russia, Nepal, East Africa, all Scandinavian countries, Italy, Australia, Peru to name a few.
In some organisations the methods are more developed; in others one can find the ideas in practice but not so thought out. There is not yet a book that gives an overview of all the educational methods used in different countries of teaching critical thinking and free inquiry. Based on questions from our member organisations, we know there is a need for such material. IHEYO wants to fill this need and publish a booklet in 2007.
The material developed during the IHEYO conference 2006 will be collected and brought together with other material that exists. Some of the materials developed will be refined and elaborated in the months after the 2006 conference by participants bringing a new method into practice within their local or national group. This booklet will be made ready in the three quarter year after the conference, so it can be published towards the end of 2007. The publishing of the booklet will be profiled with the educational events that are planned as part of the European campaign on promoting tolerance.
We want to publish at least 500 copies of the booklet and send it to humanist and human rights groups. IHEYO aims to subsidise the distribution of 350 copies for groups who have little resources (groups in developing countries). The other booklets will be offered to individuals, groups and organisations around the world for a reasonable price. The booklet may be also published at IHEYO’s website.
The Atheist Centre aims to work on a translation into Telegu when the book(let) is ready for publishing and spread it among organisations and schools .
