The American Philosophical Association (APA), the main professional organization for philosophers in the United States, has awarded this year's prestigious Award for Excellence and Innovation in Philosophy Programs to the Institute for the Advancement of Philosophy for Children (IAPC).

The APA/Philosophy Documentation Center (PDC) Award recognizes "programs that risk undertaking new initiatives and do so with excellence and success."

In a letter to Matt Lipman, who founded the IAPC in 1974 and served as its director until July of this year, APA Executive Director Elizabeth Radcliffe said the program "is truly indicative of the innovation, excellence and inspiration that we seek in an award winner."

"The APA is the most important organization in the discipline, so it is a great honor to be recognized," Lipman said.

Created in 1969, the Philosophy for Children program brings philosophy into the classroom through stories about children who discover how to reason more effectively and make better judgments by applying their reasoning to life situations.

Maughn Gregory, interim director of the IAPC, said the program is unique on many levels. "Teaching philosophy at even the high school level is controversial, especially in this country," he explained. "So the idea of doing philosophy with young children is extremely innovative."
Lipman agreed. "Many consider the idea of tempting children with philosophy ludicrous," he said. "In this program, children don't just study philosophy, they do philosophy. The way we engage children--that's what's really innovative."

The APA obviously agrees as do the many scholars who visit the IAPC annually to learn about the program. This year 12 international scholars from Korea, Iceland, Ukraine, Mexico, Russia, Bulgaria, Australia and Canada will visit the Institute. Today, preparations are being made for the incorporation of the Philosophy for Children program in every classroom in Taipei.

Each year the IAPC sponsors an international residential workshop in May and August for school teachers, university professors, child counselors and others interested in learning the Philosophy for Children program. This summer's workshop attracted scholars from 10 countries.

Teachers who come to the Institute learn how to facilitate dialogue that evokes critical thinking and sharpens reasoning skills. "Philosophy for Children is a non-didactic way of teaching values," Gregory said. "It teaches ethics, how to make value judgments and educates for citizenship. And the lower the grade level, the more teachers appreciate the richness it brings."

The IAPC also was instrumental in creating three graduate degree programs--a master of education with a concentration in philosophy for children, a master of arts in teaching with a concentration in teaching middle school philosophy, and the doctorate in education in pedagogy specializing in philosophy for children. The doctorate program is the only one of its kind in the world. Fifteen students currently are enrolled and come from as far away as Nigeria, Kenya, Ecuador and Hong Kong.

The APA awards program is in its third year. The 2001 prize will be awarded to the IAPC at the APA Pacific Division meeting in Seattle this spring.

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