Should reasoning skills be taught in primary school?

Do I think children in primary school should be taught how to reason and think critically? Yes, I do. I feel it is important that children learn why or how something is what it is and not just because mom and dad said so or this is what the teacher said so it has to be right. I think as a whole today people have been relying on what others tell them so much that if you ask them why something is the way it is they will either just look at you, maybe with a blank expression, and say well that's what I have always been taught or told. I feel it is important we don't let our younger generation fall into this same slump the majority of us have. "If we teach children everything we know, their knowledge is limited to ours. If we teach children to think, their knowledge is limitless." www.criticalthinking.com We have been taught for so long now in elementary school read the assignment listen to the teacher, remember the answers and you will pass the homework, test, and that grade. By doing this you are limiting the child to what the teachers say as being the answer because that is what they said no ands, ifs, or buts about it. We should be teaching our kids how to open their minds and figure out how something got to be the way it was not just this is how it is and how it will always be. According to the website I mentioned earlier by teaching kids to use their minds at an early age (they even mention before preschool) they will absorb the knowledge and information and advance in their education level at a faster rate. They will also be able to comprehend what they are reading and why something works the way it does easier when the know how to "read between the lines." Having a more open mind and better understanding for something will also help a child as, they grow up and go through all levels of education, to do better on test and writing reports because they will be able to comprehend why the correct answer is correct rather than just using memorization. When we actively engage our minds we tend to be able to recall information better than when we just read for memorization.

Some might argue they are just kids let them have fun and enjoy life and I would agree with those who say this That is why it is important to make these learning experiences a game and not just a lecture. When we play games with our kids, instead of playing Mario Brothers, get a game that makes them use their brains and figure out how the game works and why they got to the end result.

I believe if we start at a young age we will have a very bright future ahead of us when our kids become adults and start making informed decisions about government related issues as well as going out into the work force because these critical thinking and reasoning skills will come more naturally.