Philosophy with Children:
Early Years Thinkers
The Strathclyde Early Years Educational
Research Conference
Dr. Claire Cassidy
claire.cassidy@strath.ac.uk
7th September 2013
Philosophy with Children
• Philosophy with Children – generic term
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Philosophy for Children (P4C)
Socratic Method
Thinking Through Philosophy
Guided Socratic Discussion
Community of Philosophical Inquiry (CoPI)
• Practical philosophy.
Some key figures
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Socrates
Leonard Nelson
Philip Cam
Richard Paul
Gareth Matthews
Robert Fisher
Matthew Lipman
Catherine McCall
Philosophy deals with big ideas
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Knowledge
Science
Ethics
Mind
Art
Religion
Metaphysics
Politics
Why should we do Philosophy with Children?
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Confidence
Challenge
Question
Non-confrontational
Argumentation
Creativity
Fallibility
Reason
Society
and……
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It’s
FUN!!!
What can you do in your own practice?
• Allow the children to own the dialogue
• Work with children’s questions
• Encourage agreement and disagreement – with
reasons
• Allow silence
• Don’t reword or rephrase
• Avoid conclusions or consensus
• Question and challenge
• Don’t be afraid to stop everything for philosophising
Getting started ideas
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Think about your stimulus – fairy tales are good to start with
Thinking box
Sit in a circle
Read story and ask for questions that are puzzling
Model questions
Write questions, note questioner’s name
Select questions from the box
Structure – encourage agreement/disagreement but with reasons
Talk about listening, talking, thinking skills and building on others’
ideas
• Philosophy/thinking/talking corner
• Puppets/figures
Useful questions
• What did you find puzzling or interesting in the
story?
• Why do you think that?
• Can you say a bit more?
• Can you give us an example of that?
• What do you mean when you say …?
• Does that mean you agree or disagree with x?
Curriculum for Excellence
• Where does Philosophy with Children fit in?
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Successful learners
Confident individuals
Effective contributors
Response citizens
Successful learners with…
– Openness to new thinking and ideas
– Think creatively and independently
– Make reasoned evaluations
– Link and apply different kinds of learning in new
situations.
Confident individuals who can…
– Relate to others and manage themselves
– Develop and communicate their own beliefs
and view of the world
– Assess risk and take informed decisions.
Effective contributors who…
– Communicate in different ways and in different
settings
– Apply critical thinking in new contexts
– Create and develop
– Solve problems.
Responsible citizens who will…
– Develop knowledge and understanding of the
world and Scotland’s place in it
– Understand different beliefs and cultures
– Make informed choices and decisions
– Evaluate environmental, scientific and
technological issues
– Develop informed, ethical views of complex
issues.
Something to think about…
• “Education has failed if it simply produces a great
uncritical mass of people who will be uncritical at the
ballot box, uncritical consumers and uncritical when it
comes to raising their own children. If children were
encouraged from an early age to be powerful critical
thinkers they would be less likely to be the dupe of
advertising, politics, professionals and other assorted
groups who have a vested interest in putting
conviction before truth. Teaching philosophy to five
year olds is one way to start ensuring ordinary people
can call the Emperor’s bluff.”
Coles, 2006, p.35
Want to take this further?
• Postgraduate Certificate in Philosophy with Children
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Part of MEd
Three modules (£335 each)
Tuesday evenings 6pm – 8.30pm
Starts Tuesday 17th September
Contact
Dr. Claire Cassidy
School of Education
Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences
University of Strathclyde
141 St. James’ Road
Glasgow
G4 0LT
0141 444 8036
claire.cassidy@strath.ac.uk