KHEC Curriculum Framework 2.0

2.0 Philosophy for Kids/Philosophy for Children

There are a wealth of resources to be found on the Internet when you look  for either “philosophy for kids” or “philosophy for children.”  So look for both. Although the approaches vary, both strategies aim to teach reasoning skills to children.  The Wikipedia encyclopedia discusses two variations as well as the different approaches by two of the leading proponents: (en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Philosophy_for_Children)

Gareth Matthews method is to get the students to actively create philosophical settings and “make the philosophical problem their own.” One techniques is to provide the beginning of a philosophically provocative story. He then records/transcribes student comments, puts them in the mouths of characters in the story, and then brings the story continuation in to the next class session for further discussion. Such interactions are compiled in his book Dialogues With Children. (www.hup.harvard.edu/catalog/MATDIA.html)

Matthew Lipman's style is more guided than Matthews's open-ended interaction with students. Lipman believes that we must start teaching philosophy early lest older teens and young adults permanently lose their native curiosity and philosophical skills. He strongly feels that college is too late for anyone's first introduction to critical thinking. Lipman advocates integration of philosophy into the K-12 curriculum. He provides complete stories which address clearly defined philosophical problems in which character dialogue reveals the main philosophical issues and stories are used as a basis for discussion. Because his books have companion teacher’s manuals, they can be a good starting point for teachers, e.g.,  Harry Stottlemeier’s Discovery. (See Teaching Children Philosophical Thinking: An Introduction to the Teacher's Manual for "Harry Stottlemeier's Discovery)

Here are two important links to explore:
http://www.mtholyoke.edu/omc/kidsphil/
http://www.philosophyforchildren.org/

 

The Center for Inquiry. The Center for Inquiry Institute offers undergraduate level summer school, seminars, and workshops in critical thinking and the scientific outlook and its implications for religion, human values, and science. In addition to transferable undergraduate credit through the State University of New York system, CFI offers a 30 credit hour Certificate of Proficiency in Critical Inquiry. This three-year curriculum offers summer sessions at the main campus at SUNY-Buffalo in Amherst and the Skeptic's Toolbox workshop at the University of Oregon, Eugene.

In addition, the Center and Committee for Skeptical Inquiry's Inquiring Minds program have sponsored trial programs to teach critical thinking for children, developed classroom curricular material and resources for educators, and are currently working on informal educational initiatives with museums, science centers, and community groups. The Council for Secular Humanism's Secular Family Network provides additional support and program development for parents and children and publishes a newsletter entitled "Family Matters." For additional information: www.centerforinquiry.net/

The Critical Thinking Community. The Center for Critical Thinking and Moral Critique and the Foundation for Critical Thinking work closely together to promote essential change in education and society through the cultivation of fair-minded critical thinking. The work of the Foundation is to integrate the Center's research and theoretical developments and to create events and resources designed to help educators improve their instruction. Materials developed through the Foundation for Critical Thinking include books, guides, videos, and other teaching resources. The Foundation and Center for Critical Thinking sponsor an annual International Critical Thinking Conference as well as advanced academies and international academies in Europe. For additional information: www.criticalthinking.org/

Critical Thinking Power Point Presentation
One of the most thorough analyses of issues relating to Critical Thinking has been developed by Amy Birtcher of the Humanist Community of Central Ohio that addresses such questions as --  What is it? Why do we need it? and How do we do it? (Please contact Amy to receive an e-mail file of the 46 slides – abirtcher@gmail.com.)  Here is a brief overview of the major topics:

-- Definitions of critical thinking (Francis Bacon's and a more modern one)
-- Why is critical thinking necessary or desirable?
-- Characteristics of a well-cultivated thinker
-- The importance of language --- words, statement and arguments – (Also see
    www.criticalthinking.org)
-- Circular reasoning, e.g., "It's immoral because it's not right."
-- Begging the question. i.e., You assume the very thing that needs to be proved.
-- The burden of proof lies with the person making the claim
-- Occam's razor – the simplest explanation which covers all the facts is preferable to more     complicated explanations
-- Arguments by definition, e.g., Real Americans support the President (impossible to define     "real American")
-- Gambler's Fallacy – past practice doesn't affect future probability
-- Avoid strawman arguments, i.e., putting words in one's mouth and then attacking them     for those words
-- Some "tips" to keep in mind as you try to discuss ideas with others:

Don't be afraid to say you don't know something.

Don't feel you have to have an immediate response or answer.

Read the item in question before you try to critique it.

Try to establish a level playing field.

Expect others to read and be prepared too.

Don't allow someone else to monopolize the conversation.

Break things down point by point into simple bites to deal with.

When someone makes a claim, ask questions that force them to explain and justify their statements.

Avoid using absolute phrases like ALL, ALWAYS, EVERYONE.

Remember that fast answers and emotional manipulation are all around us – don't let yourself fall prey to them.

Avoid using emotionally manipulative terms, e.g., "If you'd just be honest with yourself, you'd realize…" "We all know that…" "Only an idiot would believe…"

Just because someone claims something in an authoritative voice doesn't mean it's true – don't be cowed; check independent sources for verification.

Just because something is in print, that doesn't make it true or accurate.

Verify your sources and demand that others verify theirs as well.

Beware of vested interests.

Does the person you are talking to want something from you?  Are they manipulating you? Stay on task! Remain calm.

Don't change the subject and don't let others do so either, especially when they are losing!

Realize that humans have an emotional need for certainty.