Calls for children to learn at school how to argue and be more empathetic.

Woolf Fisher Research Centre director Stuart McNaughton says it would help kids learn to think about other people's positions.

The call comes in the age of increasing digital classrooms.

Professor McNaughton told Mike Hosking he's concerned the concept hasn't been put in the foreground at schools, when it's something people need to be good at.

"They don't have to be separate from these things, you know, maths and science, you think about having a really good argument about fracking or drilling for oil or sustainability."

LISTEN ABOVE AS STUART MCNAUGHTON SPEAKS WITH MIKE HOSKING