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Parents learn a lot themselves when they home school their children. They remember things long forgotten, and learn things they were never taught. Learning the scientific method and the associated thingking skills is a great opportunity for parents too.
Excluding those who are scientists, I would estimate that 95-99% of parents have never been adequately taught the scientific method. So, parents, in addition to helping your children, the scientific method can help you in your career and in your life. Teach it to your children, but also learn it yourself.
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Previously I pointed out that:
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Learning how to learn knowledge is important. |
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How to determine the reliability of knowledge by using the scientific method is also important. |
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How to apply knowledge following the scientific method is essential. |
To successfully do these things and also be successful in life requires many personal attributes that our schools often fail to teach to any extent. The development of character and values is a major reason that parents decide to homeschool their children.
While schools are currently experimenting with programs to teach character, as homeschoolers have long done, little is being done to teach the many other personal attributes that are so essential to a happy and productive life.
Personal attributes can be taught, but children should also be encouraged to study and develop proper ones themselves. While it has been my life-long ambition to prepare some good material on personal attributes, I have had to defer this because of my research and crusade for the scientific method.
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A definition of personal attributes also includes character traits, aptitudes, skills, values, attitudes, etc. We are concerned here with those needed to use THE GENERAL PATTERN OF THE SCIENTIFIC METHOD.
Some important ones are:
| CURIOSITY |
- An inquiring mind |
| HONESTY |
- Integrity/ethical/unbiased/impartial |
| SELF-SACRIFICE |
- Delays gratification |
| PROGRESSIVENESS |
- Initiate changes that improve |
| TOLERANCE |
- Of other views and races |
| INNOVATIVENESS |
- Apply and adapt anyone's ideas |
| RESPONSIBILITY |
- Can be depended upon |
| SELF-CORRECTING |
- Admits own faults and mistakes |
| COURAGE |
- Risk taker and endures failure |
| SELF-CONFIDENCE |
- Good self-image/self-sufficient |
| FLEXIBILITY |
- Can adapt to change ingenious |
| PRODUCTIVITY |
- Personally effective and efficient |
| INITIATIVE |
- Self-starter gets things done |
| COMMUNICATION SKILLS |
- Expressive verbal and written |
| CREATIVITY |
- Develop new ideas and solutions |
| EXPERIMENTAL INCLINATION |
- Tries new ways, tests written |
| SELF-EDUCATION |
- Always trying to learn more |
| MOTIVATION AND SENSITIVITY |
- Alert & moved to solve problems
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ALERTNESS OF MIND REFLECTIVE THINKING
Decisive
Analyzes
Objective
Reasoning |
Forecasts
Evaluating
Perceptive
Competitive |
Conjecturing
Introspective
Relates ideas
Uses imagery |
Tactically alert
Healthy skepticism
Open-minded Interpreting |
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AMBITIOUS INDUSTRIOUS ENERGETIC
Leader
Organized
Persistent |
Aggressive
Dependable
Progressive |
Thinks ahead
Goal-oriented
Task-oriented |
Desirous to improve
Passion for subject
Accepts responsibility |
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SKILLFUL QUALITY MINDED
Writing
Reading
Planning
Accurate
Organized |
Measuring
Initiative
Statistics
Meticulous
Improvising |
Visualizing
Typewriting
Abstracting
Generalizing
Mathematical |
Communicating
Technological
Troubleshooter
Manual dexterity
Computer friendly |
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COOPERATIVE AND POSITIVE ATTITUDE LOVE OF COUNTRY
Develop a good overall personality and the ability to get along with others. Great developments and improvements are usually a result of team effort.
Tolerant
Team worker
Seeks truth
Does homework |
Sense of humor
Time-conscious
Good self-image
Respects teacher |
Admits ignorance
Relates to others
Accepts criticism
Controls emotions |
Doesn't discriminate
Avoids misconceptions
Respects school
Maintains discipline |
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