Many pupils offered wrong ideas along the way, but the teacher encouraged them to defend their opinions until they themselves were convinced that their opinions were wrong. According to the theory of constructivism, children learn by modifying old ideas, not by accumulating new ones. A debate about the superiority of one idea or another is good, because it encourages children to think critically by putting different ideas into relationship with one another. It also allows students to modify old ideas autonomously when they are convinced that new ideas are better. This 6th grader teacher taught academic content and simultaneously tried to foster the development of intellectual and moral autonomy.
Children can develop intellectual autonomy only when all ideas, including wrong ones, are respected.
Children can develop moral autonomy only when their ideas are given serious consideration in the process of making decisions. It is also important to note that children mobilize their intelligence and the totality of their knowledge when they have to take a stand and confronted opposing opinions. Another research confirms the importance that Piaget attributed to social interactions. Piaget argued that exchanging points of view is indispensable for children's moral development. He later went on to say that these exchanges are equally necessary for the development of logic in children.