In both Fahrenheit 451 and American society today, students are not encouraged to use critical thinking skills in school. In the novel, Clarisse wishes for a better education system that allows her to be challenged and interact with fellow students in profound ways. Students at her school do work that is meant to keep them busy and prevent them from thinking. This is also prevalent in today’s society, because teachers are concerned more about memorization than encouraging students to participate in meaningful discussions. In “A Society with Poor Critical Thinking Skills: The Case for ‘Argument’ in Education,” Shmuly Yanklowitz discusses the structure of the school system, and the lack of a curriculum that is based in argument. Yanklowitz states