Institute for the Advancement of Philosophy for Children
"P4C is one of the best things that has ever happened
to me professionally. In one short year it has profoundly influenced
and re-energized my teaching." Katrina Macht, Bridge Student
Overview of Graduate Studies in
Philosophy for Children
Montclair State University offers two graduate degree programs in
Philosophy for Children:
Our graduate programs are premised on the belief that we should be
educating our students to make better judgments in their lives and
living in communities better. It is our view that the best way to teach
for both of these is through philosophical reflection in the classroom
on matters of importance to the students. It is the give-and-take of
such discussion when conducted in a disciplined fashion – referred to
as 'the community of inquiry' - that stimulates students and teachers
alike to think more critically, creatively and caringly. It is the
rigorous dialogical procedure of the classroom with its emphasis on
self-correction, active listening and intellectual cooperation that
provides both a model for community and a model for self-corrective
reflection on the part of the individual.
Our graduate students are introduced to Philosophy for Children
curriculum materials and pedagogical methods that have been in
development since the inception of Philosophy for Children in 1974. In
so far as the four degree programs call upon dimensions of
philosophical knowledge and expertise, these dimensions are woven into
the structure of Philosophy for Children and are taught as an
integrated part of the degree courses. Rather than seeing philosophy as
limited to disciplinary knowledge, these programs see philosophy as
involving collaborative inquiry, ("meaning-making") and the reflective
use of thinking and reasoning skills, all of which are essential
ingredients to good teaching across the disciplines.
Detailed information about each of the degree programs in Philosophy
for Children is available from the Philosophy for Children Graduate
Program Coordinator:
Jeremy Price, Graduate Program Coordinator
Chair, Department of
Educational Foundations
Phone Number: (973) 655-5170
Email: pricej@mail.montclair.edu
Students interested in applying for any of the graduate degrees in
Philosophy for Children should do so online at http://www.montclair.edu/graduate
Montclair State University
The Graduate School
1 Normal Avenue
Montclair, NJ 07043
Telephone: (973) 655-5147 or (800) 331-9207
Email: Graduate.School@montclair.edu
Website: http://www.montclair.edu
On-line catalog: http://www.montclair.edu/catalog/
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Comments from past and present
graduate students
"I found the P4C program particularly attractive because of its
emphasis on dialogue, community of inquiry, and critical thinking.
Whether you're a beginning teacher or a veteran, P4C offers various
creative suggestions for cultivating a sense of intellectual freedom
and egalitarianism within the classroom. I highly recommend this
program for instructors who are interested in encouraging their
students to analyze beyond the text, and relate complex issues in
philosophy to life experience." -Ed.D student
"I have gone through both masters and doctoral level courses in the
Philosophy for Children specialization at Montclair State University. A
majority of the courses are structured as communities of inquiry, in
which students bring in their ideas, share them with others, and
jointly aim at developing deeper understanding of the topics and
questions dealt with. This structure gives students a unique insight
into in the pedagogy that the program advocates, as well as extensive
experience with it. While this way of working makes for very rich
learning experiences, it is also very challenging. It demands of the
student that they are very clear about what they want to bring to the
community, and what they want to focus on in their individual, written
work. The community of inquiry also requires every participant to take
on responsibility for the development of the class, both in terms of
classroom atmosphere as well as in structuring the syllabus and reading
agenda. Since most of us are brought up in schools where we have little
power over what to read and write, and how to structure class sessions,
this new learning environment takes time and effort to adjust to. But
this is the work through which you break away from your own experience
of schooling, and become a radically different kind of educator."
-Ed.D. student
"My experience of Mendham was one of the most valuable experiences I
have ever had in my education. The sessions are intense and extremely
valuable in learning what the philosophy for children program entails.
It was also very helpful to study with the numerous students from
around the world to see how the program has been implemented globally."
-Masters of Arts in Teaching student
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What our graduate students are doing
now
- Faculty members at Universities
- Graduate students in other philosophy and education
programs.
- Authors of journal articles, trade books, children's
books and curriculum in Philosophy for Children
- Philosophy for Children consultants to schools
- Researchers at Philosophy for Children Centers
- Directors and co-directors of Philosophy for Children
Centers
- Teachers at Elementary and Secondary schools
- Producers of educational curriculum
- Education journalist for The New York Times
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