It’s like the age-old question: Which came first, the chicken or the egg? But when it comes to character or critical thinking, I believe that it is a matter of which will benefit you more in the long run.

Here’s a case in point. I was watching a true crime program the other day about a man who was a decorated colonel in the Canadian Forces. He was intelligent, skillful, experienced, knowledgeable, and by all accounts, respectable. On paper he was impressive. In appearance,...
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A few years ago, just when new curriculum reforms in our state were gaining momentum, my daughter's teacher said something to me that I'll never forget. She was the kind of teacher who was not only a great instructor, but she was also a great facilitator because she loved to learn along with her students. But as standardized testing and academic performance intensified in priority, she and many of her peers became understandably disturbed. She said to me, "I wish I could spend more time doing...
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