Philosophy for Children
An innovation in opening children’s minds
By Carmen Cors
I have been a teacher at Beamont Collegiate Academy since September 2013. Being a teacher provides you with an up-to-date, straight in your face, view of the world young people live in today. Not the teenage world that I and many of my colleagues lived in; for some of us at least 15 years ago!
At BCA we have introduced a powerful new teaching tool to help give students a voice and encourage them to tackle some of life’s deeper questions.
Philosophy for Children (P4C), created by Professor Matthew Lipman, is a method of unlocking children’s thoughts and ideas about the world around them. P4C encourages children to become more intellectually curious, critical and creative through a variety of mind stretching activities.
Photo by Warrington Guardian.
Pupils engage in discussions based on hypothetical concepts. Through this learning platform they do not seek answers; they seek reasons for opinions, debate points of view and develop ideas presented by their peers.
‘I think it is good because we get to talk about things if we are not sure about them. It helps us learn and understand our world!’ Louise Johnson Year 7
Being able to facilitate the sessions and observe pupils come alive as they rationalise their own thoughts and opinions has been truly amazing. Being involved in watching them begin to believe in their own ideas is truly inspirational! The quietest child has contributed with confidence and ease. The children I expected to control the discussion co-operated superbly, allowing others to voice their thoughts whilst still sharing their own ideas.
Pupils, regardless of ability, have astounded me by their in-depth analysis of concepts. Furthermore, P4C has allowed their own compassion to shine though on subjects deemed too complex to debate. For example, ‘If I shout at you to protect you, am I your friend?’ and ‘If all religions were banned, would there be more or less war in the world?’ Removing the constraints of criteria led discussions allowed a freedom of expression from all involved.
‘It is fun and useful because it helps you improve your learning and your speaking and listening skills.’ Reece Palmer-Hewitt year 7
One of the wonderful aspects of teaching is that you never stop learning. I relish my experiences in the classroom; a pupil communicating their own thoughts and opinions through the empowerment that P4C has given them.
“Teaching children to think quickly, deeply and with agility has got to be one of the greatest gifts we can offer them as they take their place as adults in the 21st century.
Ironic really that an intellectual process dating back thousands of years maybe the best chance we have to deal with what the future has in store for us.”
Ian Gilbert (Little Book of Thunks)