Abstract

This research study was conducted on Taiwan (Republic of China) where secondary school social studies teachers were interviewed regarding their perspectives of teaching critical thinking skills in their classrooms. All interviews were audio taped in Chinese and later translated into English. Data including the translation of the audio, video tapes, the Ministry of Education guidelines, and textbook teacher manuals were analyzed qualitatively. The results of the study indicated that Taiwanese secondary school social studies teachers were not familiar with the definition and teaching strategies of critical thinking; the Taiwanese Ministry of Education Guidelines did not require teachers to teach critical thinking; and teacher’s manuals for the state required textbooks provided only detailed content information with only minor references to teaching critical thinking. The study supported comments make by Taiwanese college students in the United States that they did not acquire critical thinking skills from their public school education in Taiwan.