Principal's Page

Kia Ora Friends 

Last newsletter I wrote about the importance of critical thinking - on my principal's page and in a separate article.

Two reminders from last week:

The only defence against fake news and AI-slop that many of us can see is teaching thinking, most especially critical thinking. For all 34 years I have been a principal, I have repeatedly told my staff we need to teach discernment - the ability to look at something critically, clearly and objectively.

Why Critical Thinking Matters More Than Ever:

• Critical thinking is a safety skill: it helps us avoid “confident nonsense” and make better decisions under pressure. 
• Our brains are wired for shortcuts, such as going with the group and relying on what we already believe, so we need simple habits to slow down and check. 
• At WHS, we practise “pause, question, check” in age-appropriate ways across reading, inquiry, and digital learning. 
• It’s not about being suspicious of everything; it’s about being calmly curious and willing to change our minds when the evidence changes. 

I will again develop these thoughts further in a separate article in this newsletter. But here's a summary of some new key points for reflection - and maybe even discussion...

Information is everywhere now, including AI-generated info. Our job is to help children learn what to trust, what to question, and what to do next.

At Western Heights, we explicitly teach thinking, discernment, and digital judgement alongside reading, writing and maths.

“Smart” is not memorising more facts. “Smart” is asking good questions, checking sources, spotting bias, and explaining your thinking clearly.

This matters in Aotearoa too: employers have long said qualifications don’t always show what learners can actually do in real situations. 

Whānau can help at home with a few simple routines: slow down, verify, talk it through, and practise “show me your evidence”.

Here's a response from a mum to the article on critical thinking in our last newsletter:

Dear Ash

Just wanted to say I loved your article on critical thinking.  It is something that, as a parent, I continuously worry about and question the integrity of. 

It is something that is good for me to ponder when I approach controversial matters or subjects, helping the kids broaden their research scope and do so with eyes wide open, including me!

Coincidentally, I had been watching some reels about these primitive men building swimming pools and outdoor shelters from natural resources located in the bush. 

My son pointed out to me that it was all AI and not true. He had to prove it to me, and to my disappointment, I realised I had been scammed! 

He went to a different source and found that all of it was staged, and that the men had been working with machinery, not their bare hands, as the reels portray. Hahaha! 

So I think kids are aware of AI-enhanced material, but as parents, we also need to educate ourselves to help our kids, because this situation isn't good lol. My son had to call out something I believed was genuine, but which was not.

Anyway, the article provoked me to think more about the effects of AI influence. And in general, I conclude that every family member needs to be on their toes when it comes to online interaction and activity.

As always, if you have questions or concerns about anything school-related, email me at macash@mac.com, and I will get back to you asap.

My very best regards to you all,

Ash Maindonald

Principal.