PHILOSOPHY FOR CHILDREN

1
PHILOSOPHY FOR CHILDREN

• Chapter VI

Dialogue Running a Discussion Starting Points for
Discussions
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INTRODUCTION

• Low level of thinking
• skills

• Student at
• college

because
the child is not sufficiently encouraged to think
for himself, to form independent judgments
thoughtful
childrens aims
to become more
reflective
considerate
reasonable
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DIALOGUE

• Is the best development of thinking

The best way to teach children to think
stories
how children behave in a community of enquiry
If we want reflective adults
encourage children to be reflective
IMPORTANT (to teach children to think)
animated discussions
talk about questions
listen peers and to respect other point of view
no definitive answers, no absolute rights and
wrongs
DIALOGUE IS NOT A BATTLE WITH WINNERS AND LOSERS
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RUNNING A DISCUSSION

• can flourish in many different settings
• hear each others voices without the need for
  shouting
• noise or activities of children in class can be
  cause interruption
• all participants, including the teacher are
  equally valuable

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Different structure that facilitate the dialogue

• INDIVIDUAL TASK STRUCTURE

task
child
teacher
task
child
task
child
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GROUP TASK
child
teacher
child
task
child
task
child
child
child
child
child
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TUTORIAL
child
child
teacher
child
child
child
8
DIDACTIC
child
child
teacher
child
child
child
child
child
child
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CONFERENCE
child
teacher
child
child
child
child
child
child
10
CLASS MEETING
child
child
child
child
child
child
The problem
child
child
teacher
child
child
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SOCRATIC
child
child
child
teacher
child
The problem
child
child
child
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STARTING POINT FOR DISCUSSION

• listening is not only hearing words, but paying
  attention to the meaning of what is being said
• normally session starts by reading or re-reading
  part of story
• teacher

a facilitator, a manager of the process
rationality
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FREEDOM

• is circumscribed by rules and prohibitions

unwritten
written
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JUDGMENT

• discussion involved exposing ones viewpoints to
  judgment of others
• children arent the prisoners of fairylands

theyre interested in what happens in the world

• current events can stimulate discussion
• through discussion children learn to become

more philosophical
more logical
more critical
more reflective
DIALOGUE OFFER A POWERFUL MEANS OF PROBLEM-SOLVING