Don't Trust Me: Teaching Kids Critical Thinking and Accountability
What happens when a martial arts instructor encourages children to question him, challenge his mistakes, and hold him accountable? They learn something far more valuable than obedience. They learn to think independently, recognize inconsistencies, and take responsibility for their own decisions.
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Why I Encourage Parents to Watch My Classes
When I first began teaching 4–6-year-old kids, I always welcomed parents to watch my classes.
While many programs would only allow parents to watch their children on the first and/or last day, I was the aberration.
My argument was simple:
Would I feel comfortable judging a conflict scenario where I only saw the beginning and the end?
I explained to parents that they should know the guy teaching real-time moral and ethical problem-solving techniques, which could involve violence, was indeed not crazy and had a good head on his shoulders.
Teaching Kids to Question Authority and Hold Me Accountable
As for my students, they LOVE not trusting me.
It gives them a sense of satisfaction because I've given them the gift of accountability.
If they can hold me accountable for my mistakes, then it's more than fair that I hold them accountable for theirs.
If they catch me in any inconsistency, whether in word, action, or deed, they can call me on it.
I then apologize and do a burpee for them.
That's their favorite part.
So why is this so important to me and my teaching method?
Critical Thinking Begins With Learning to Evaluate Conflict
In a world flooded with information, we need a filter.
The one thing NOT included in this flood of information is how to create that filter.
If one is to avoid conflict, then one must be able to discern the following:
1. Is this a conflict I need to address?
2. Is this a conflict that requires physical, mental, verbal, or psychological action?
3. Does this conflict rise to the level of violence?
Most of our conflicts are not physical, and therefore most of our conflicts do not rise to the level of violence.
However, if one lives in the precarious state of imbalance due to an inability to answer those three questions correctly, then one is more likely to find physical conflict.
If a conflict becomes physical, then violence becomes a real possibility.
Why Accountability Makes Better Students and Better Teachers
I am not perfect.
I am fallible.
I am an imperfect, fallible teacher of martial arts. Therefore, I will make mistakes.
The more my students poke holes in my teaching, the smarter THEY become at seeing reality.
The smarter my students become, the smarter the teacher becomes.
In this way, I elevate my students AND myself simply by saying:
"Don't trust me."