[Series 011] "Why Do I Have to Go to School?"｜Learning to Question the "Obvious" (Critical Thinking Training)

Hello! We've finished Part 1, and now we're diving into Part 2: building your 'thinking muscles'. 🧠💪

Our first exercise starts with a question we've all asked since childhood.

"Mom, why do I have to go to school?"

When you asked this, you probably got a smack on the back along with answers like "Because everyone does!" or "You need to study and make friends!" - the 'standard answer'.

But today, we're going to ask this question again - not as a complaint, but as a serious 'philosophical question'.

🚫 Nothing Is More Dangerous Than "That's Just How It Is"

"That's just how things are", "Everyone does it that way"

These phrases are magic spells that make us stop thinking. They're the easiest answers that encourage 'intellectual laziness'.

the-story-why.blogspot.comIn the AI Era, If You Don't Want to Be Replaced, Cultivate 'THIS' First

We're surrounded by countless "that's just how it is" statements:

• "You must be quiet during class." (Why? What about discussion-based learning?)
• "You need to go to a good university to succeed." (Why? Is university the only definition of success?)
• "Video games are bad." (Why? What about stress relief or esports careers?)
• "You need three meals a day." (Why? What about intermittent fasting? Individual differences?)
• "Homework must be done at a desk." (Why? Can't you learn while walking or lying down?)

But if we look at history, today's "obvious truths" actually changed because someone asked questions:

• Long ago: "Women can't vote, that's just how it is" → Now it's a basic right
• In the past: "Earth is the center of the universe" → Copernicus questioned it
• Before: "Slavery is just the way things are" → Someone challenged it

The moment we accept these "obvious truths" without question, we stop being masters of our own thinking and become just parts of the "that's how it's always been" machine.

🔍 'Critical Thinking' = Being Negative? NO!

"So should I argue with everything?"

No! 'Critical thinking' doesn't mean complaining about or rejecting everything.

What is Critical Thinking?
Instead of just accepting any claim, it's the attitude of asking "Is that really true?", "What's the evidence?", "Are there other possibilities?" and making rational judgments.
It's like becoming 'a detective of thought'.

If there's a fact like "School starts at 8:30 AM," you dig into the roots (reasons) of that claim: "Why 8:30? Was it based on factory work schedules from the Industrial Revolution? Research shows teenage brains are more active around 10 AM - why do we do the opposite?"

Critical Thinking ≠ Criticizing
❌ "The school system is garbage!" (Just criticizing)
✅ "Why was the school system created this way? What are the pros and cons? Is there a better way?" (Critical thinking)

🤖 AI Summarizes "How Things Are" Best

the-story-why.blogspot.com[Series 001] The ONE Superpower AI Can Never Steal From You 🫵

If you ask AI "Why do I have to go to school?", it will give you the most logical, typical answers from the internet (gaining knowledge, developing social skills...). That's because AI is based on 'existing data'.

But AI can't ask 'fundamental questions' like "Is the school system really the best option for today's world? Isn't there a better way?"

That's only for humans - that's YOUR job.

✨ Today's Mission: Ask "Why?" 5 Times (5 Whys Method)

Today, choose one "that's just how it is" thing in your life.

(Examples: school uniform, dress codes, study methods, parents' rules, screen time limits, etc.)

Then ask 'Why?' five times in a row about that fact.

[Training Example 1] "I go to tutoring every day."

Why do I have to go? → "Because I'm anxious. Everyone else goes."
Why do I have to go just because others do? → "So I don't fall behind in the competition."
Why do I need to win that competition? → "To get into a good university."
Why do I need to go to a good university? → "To get a good job."
Why do I need to get a good job? → "To be happy...?"

👉 Discovery: "Wait... is tutoring-university-job the only path to happiness?" You've found the 'real question'.

[Training Example 2] "We have to wear school uniforms."

Why do we have to wear them? → "It's the rule. For unity."
Why do we need unity? → "So wealth differences don't show."
Why is showing differences through clothes a problem? → "It creates discrimination and tension."
Why do uniforms solve that? → "Well... actually, some uniforms are expensive too, and you can't stop accessories..."
Why haven't we thought of other solutions? → "It's easier to manage and 'that's how it's always been'?"

👉 Discovery: "Does the original purpose of uniforms still work today? What's the balance with student autonomy?"

[Training Example 3] "You have to get straight A's."

Why do I need all A's? → "To get into a good university."
Why does the university look at grades? → "To see who's the best student."
Why do grades show who's the best? → "They show how well you learned."
Why are test scores the measure of learning? → "Well... is memorization the same as understanding?"
Why did grades become the standard? → "It's an easy way to compare everyone... but does it measure real learning?"

👉 Discovery: "Are letter grades really measuring what matters in education?"

[Training Example 4] "You must be in bed by 10 PM."

Why 10 PM? → "Because you need enough sleep."
Why does it have to be 10 PM specifically? → "Growth hormone is released during deep sleep."
Why does deep sleep have to start at 10? → "Old research said so."
Why don't we consider individual differences? → "Hmm... there are morning people and night owls..."
Why does this rule apply to everyone? → "It's easier to enforce and it's 'supposed to be healthy'?"

👉 Discovery: "Should we look at scientific evidence AND individual differences together?"

[Training Example 5] "Students shouldn't have phones in class."

Why not? → "They're distracting."
Why are they distracting? → "Students will use social media instead of learning."
Why can't students control their phone use? → "Well... some can, some can't."
Why don't we teach self-control instead of banning? → "It's harder than just taking phones away."
Why choose the easier option over teaching life skills? → "Good question... is convenience more important than learning responsibility?"

👉 Discovery: "Should we ban things or teach self-management? What prepares students for real life?"

This training isn't about rebelling. It's the most powerful thinking tool for 'understanding for yourself' why you're doing what you're doing.

3 Benefits of the 5 Whys Training:

• 🎯 Discover the Real Reason - Find what's hidden behind surface answers
• 🧠 Increase Thinking Depth - Your thinking expands from level 1 → level 5
• 💡 Gain Ownership - Do things because "I understand" not because "I was told to"

💬 Your Turn!

the-story-why.blogspot.com[Series 007] How to Break AI with "Crazy" Questions (Creativity Hack) 🤯

What 'real question' did you discover?

Choose one "that's just how it is" from your daily life, ask why 5 times, and share in the comments! 👇

Topic Ideas:

• Homework policies
• Screen time rules
• Expected career paths (doctor/lawyer expectations)
• Why you "need" social media
• Standardized testing
• AP/A-Level requirements

Next time, we'll dive deeper into 'how to ask questions'! 🚀