Using Philosophy for Children to Cultivate Collaborative Civic Space

Using Philosophy for Children (P4C) to Cultivate and Nurture Collaborative Civic Space

Date: Tuesday, September 10, 2024

Time: 9:00 AM - 3:00 PM

Location: Hanahau'oli School Professional Development Center, 1922 Makiki Street, Honolulu HI 96822

Philosophy for Children (P4C) is a worldwide movement that aims to transform the schooling experience of children by engaging them in the activity of philosophy. Locally, the University of Hawai‘i Uehiro Academy for Philosophy and Ethics in Education is the home of philosophy for children Hawai‘i (p4c Hawai‘i). The p4c Hawai‘i approach aids students and teachers in converting traditional classrooms into intellectually safe communities of inquiry. Together, they develop their ability to think for themselves in responsible ways by exploring “big questions” that arise from their interests, experiences, and learning contexts. When practiced with fidelity, p4c Hawai‘i cultivates and nurtures a collaborative civic space in classrooms where individuals “experience of dialoguing with others as equals, [and] participating in shared public inquiry [so] that they [are] able to eventually take an active role in the shaping of a democratic society’ (Sharp 1993: 343). In this workshop, participants will learn about p4c Hawai‘i from Uehiro Academy faculty and become a part of an intellectually safe professional community of inquiry. They will engage in a number of p4c Hawai‘i’s hallmark activities, including how to use p4c Hawai‘i to engage students in meaningful civil dialogue and inquiry about problems of democracy. They will also reflect on ways to apply the classroom strategies to their diverse teaching contexts.

This workshop is designed for K-12 educators, higher education faculty, and community educators who are interested in exploring how p4c Hawai‘i can be applied to contexts outside of the regular classroom setting. It is also designed for teachers who are interested in interdisciplinary and integrated approaches to education, as well as teachers who want to apply the practice to traditional subject areas and coursework (e.g. Social Studies, English Language Arts, Advisory, etc.)

Lunch will be provided.

Workshop Objectives: 

Participants will:

• Build an intellectually safe professional community of inquiry.
• Be introduced to the history, theoretical and practical frameworks behind the philosophy for children Hawai‘i (p4c Hawai‘i) movement, including:

1. The four pillars
2. Key activities and strategies
3. Role of the teacher
4. Participant outcomes
5. Connections between p4cHI and other national movements in education

• Define and practice Intellectual Safety.
• Create and use a Community Ball.
• Explore and apply the Good Thinker’s Tool Kit.
• Engage in a Plain Vanilla philosophical inquiry.
• Reflect on experience and brainstorm future applications.

Workshop Agenda:

8:30 am - 9:00 am Sign In

9:00 am - 9:10 am Welcome & Agenda

9:10 am - 9:30 am Overview of the philosophy for children Hawai‘i Approach to Education

9:30 am - 10:00 am Intellectual Safety: Co-Constructing a Concept Map

10:00 am - 11:00 am Making a Community Ball

11:00 - 11:15 am Break

11:15 am - 12:30 pm Introducing the Good Thinker’s Tool Kit

12:30 pm - 1:00 pm Lunch

1:00 pm - 2:15 Plain Vanilla Inquiry

2:15 pm - 2:45 pm Applying the Practice to Your Particular Teaching Context: Break into Grade Level Teams

2:45 pm - 3:00 pm Large Group Reflection

About the Presenters:

Dr. Thomas Jackson (Dr. J) is Director of the UH Uehiro Academy for Philosophy and Ethics in Education. In 1979 he received his doctorate in Comparative Philosophy from the University of Hawai'i.  In 1984 he learned of the work of Dr. Matthew Lipman, creator of the now world recognized initiative Philosophy for Children (P4C). Inspired by a three week training workshop at Montclair State College conducted by Dr. Lipman & Ann Margaret Sharp, attended by some 30 international educators Dr. J returned to Hawai'i, intent on bringing this incredibly rich, promising initiative to Hawai'i.  philosophy for children Hawai'i (p4cHawai'i) is our own "Home Grown" expression of  Lipman's original inspiration.

Dr. Benjamin Lukey received his doctorate in comparative philosophy from the University of Hawai‘i at Mānoa.  His interests in philosophy of disability, comparative philosophy, and philosophy for children (p4c) have developed from his broader goal of including more voices in philosophical discourse.  Since 2007, he has been part the p4c Hawai‘i initiative at the University of Hawai‘i at Mānoa, piloting and developing a Philosopher in Residence project at Hawaii public high schools.  Dr. Lukey continues to support p4c Hawaii teachers and students at Waimanalo Elementary & Intermediate School, Kailua High School, Waikiki Elementary, Ka’elepulu Elementary, and the University of Hawai‘i at Mānoa. He is currently Associate Director for the UH Uehiro Academy for Philosophy and Ethics in Education.

Dr. Amber Strong Makaiau is a Specialist at the University of Hawai‘i at Mānoa, Director of Curriculum and Research at the Uehiro Academy for Philosophy and Ethics in Education, Director of the Hanahau‘oli School Professional Development Center, and Co-Director of the Progressive Philosophy and Pedagogy MEd Interdisciplinary Education, Curriculum Studies program. A former Hawai‘i State Department of Education high school social studies teacher, her work in education is focused around promoting a more just and equitable democracy for today’s children. Dr. Makaiau lives in Honolulu where she enjoys spending time in the ocean with her husband and two children.

Dr. Chad Miller is the 2012 Hawaiʻi Teacher of the Year, a National Board Certified teacher, and is currently an Associate Specialist at the University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa’s Institute for Teacher Education. Dr. Miller also serves as the Director of Teacher Development at the University’s Uehiro Academy for Philosophy and Ethics in Education and in this dual role, he teaches instructional methods courses, as well as courses grounded in the Philosophy for Children (p4c) pedagogy in the College of Education to teacher candidates and graduate students, alike. He also serves as a Philosopher in Residence, where he supports teacher candidates and veteran K-12 teachers as they incorporate the activity of philosophy into their classroom practice through the use of the “Philosopher’s Pedagogy.” Regardless if he is thinking about the environmental implications of “driving” clouds with third graders, the cyclical nature of violence and drug abuse with sophomores in their Language Arts classes, or the value of living the “examined life” with undergraduates, Dr. Miller finds himself participating in extremely meaningful and rigorous philosophical inquiries with students and teachers each day with the aim of creating more thoughtful and compassionate communities.

Dr. Thomas “Toby” Yos is a faculty member of the University of Hawai‘i Uehiro Academy for Philosophy and Ethics in Education and is a specialist in Philosophy for Children (p4c). Arriving at the University of Hawai‘i in 1991, Dr. Yos studied under p4c Hawai‘i founder Dr. Thomas Jackson and received a doctoral degree in Philosophy. Since that time Dr. Yos has been working in Hawai‘i’s schools. He has mentored hundreds of teachers and done p4c with thousands of students. Having also spent two decades doing Resiliency Theory based counseling, Dr. Yos specializes in creating p4c-based mentoring groups and is the director of Waikīkī Elementary School’s center for p4c and Social Emotional Learning.

Host or Publisher Hanahau'oli School Professional Development Center