Proposal for a Panel Discussion at TAM3

[deBergerac]

My M.Ed. is on Critical Thinking. Anyone familiar with Lipman's Philosophy in Schools programme?

No I am not familiar with that, educate me.

 

[CFLarsen]

Oh, give me Claus for a few weeks. Even a few days. He can come to school and learn from the other preschoolers. I'm afraid he'd have to spend a lot of time at the "peace table" (we don't call it time out, or make the kids sit in the corner).

You sure you want that? (making Hannibal Lecter slurping sounds....)

 

[Kiless]

No I am not familiar with that, educate me.

GLADLY!! Not that I think you need educating!!

This thread is REALLY inspiring me...

I'm doing my M.Ed at the University of Western Australia, focusing on Critical Thinking.

The US has a programme, that started at Monclair State University. It is known as Philosophy for Children (or P4C) and involves children in communities of inqury through novels and short stories that are designed with manuals accompanying them.

There is so much more to this, though, and people have written dissertations on it... what interested me was that in talking to my supervisor today is that the US doesn't actually have this as a widespread practice... in fact, Australia and Brazil (I think... will check later) are using it more.

Here are some links:

The Australian key site: http://www.uq.edu.au/~pdgburgh/FAPCA/phil4kids.html

and here's the US site: http://cehs.montclair.edu/academic/iapc/

Here's a link to lots of links!!
http://www.gopbi.com/help/cgi/cim/cgi-bin/looksmart/looksmart/eus1/eus317836/eus317911/eus53880/eus236091/eus10206148/;COXnetJSessionID=ANYmU7qGdxEZDqavwkmRflao2ml6QDR0SDC1Ll1oivN1jlI6fh2z!-1035769970?urac=n&urvf=10872157825460.8105995808138036

And here is the school I have visited in Queensland that uses the system to great success:

http://www.burandass.qld.edu.au/

I am in no way an expert. But I have done both the Level 1 and Level 2 courses. I have a variety of resources and have been in contact with those who have more (and would do a far better presentation than I upon the topic).

I am surprised that this isn't well known over there, but as I mentioned, apparently it isn't widespread.

DO check it out. And if there is a forum put together at JREF I'd be willing to be on a panel simply because by the time January comes around I might be more confident in expressing what I know.

 

[Kiless]

I teach preschool and kindergarten (in a Montessori school the kindergarteners go all day, so they attend mixed age preschool in the morning, and then kindergarten in the afternoons). I'll never get asked to be on a panel!

You should DEFINITELY be there. A lot of the powerful stuff that goes on with Philosophy in Schools is done in the primary, particularly the early prim school students.

You are the grassroots, in the classroom, working practictioner. _Never_ doubt your extremely valuable contribution to the forum. You are far more influential than a bunch of dry facts; you are doing action research every time you're on campus.

When our primary Principal left, she stated that 'It's all happening in Early Childhood'. Go for it, Kittynh!!!