Throughout history, philosophers, politicians, educators and many others have been concerned
with the art and science of astute thinking. Some identify the spirit of inquiry and dialogue that
characterized the golden age of ancient Greece as the beginning of this interest. Others point to the
Age of Enlightenment, with its emphasis on rationality and progress (Presseisen 1986, p. 6).
In the twentieth century, the ability to engage in careful, reflective thought has been viewed in
various ways: as a fundamental characteristic of an educated person, as a requirement for
responsible citizenship in a democratic society, and, more recently, as an employability skill for an
increasingly wide range of jobs.
Deborah Gough's words quoted at the beginning of this report typify the current viewpoint in
education about the importance of teaching today's students to think critically and creatively.
Virtually all writers on this subject discuss thinking skills in connection with the two related
phenomena of modern technology and fast-paced change. Robinson, for example, states in her
1987 practicum report: