The phrase "to become independent thinkers" means to develop the ability to analyze and evaluate information, ideas or situations in an objective manner without being influenced by others' opinions or beliefs. Full definition
My goals are to assist my daughter in becoming an independent thinker as it will encourage her to be a leader in her class / school and less reliant on her peers for ideas on how she should think (I also believe in the Montessori method of learning which also fosters independence)... we can argue over the chicken and the egg, but we can never know the final answer. (phdinparenting.com)