Institute for the Advancement of Philosophy for Children
Image of children sitting on the floor in a classroom, raising their arms.

IAPC Timeline

1969

  • Writing of first book in Philosophy for Children curriculum: Harry Stottlemeier’s Discovery (Harry) – for ages 11-12 – with the support of the National Endowment for the Humanities (NEH).

1970

  • Offset printing of approximately 350 copies of Harry and conducting of experiment at the Rand School (Montclair Public Schools), both with the help of a grant from the NEH.

1973

  • Organization and holding of conference in “Pre-College Philosophy” at Montclair State College (now University).

1974

  • Establishment of IAPC as part of Montclair State College.

1975

  • Establishment of IAPC as part of Montclair State College. Writing (together with Ann Margaret Sharp and Frederick S. Oscanyan) of first edition of Philosophical Inquiry, the instructional manual to accompany Harry.
  • Conducting of teacher-education project in Newark, at Miller Street and Morton Street Schools, with support from the NEH.
  • Conference in Philosophy for Children held at Rutgers University Continuing Education Center, New Brunswick, with support from the New Jersey Committee for the Humanities

1976

  • Award of five-year development grant from New Jersey Department of Education (Title IV-C) to develop test of children’s reasoning.
  • Holding of five- to seven-day workshop/conferences to train professors of philosophy to prepare teachers to foster children’s critical and creative thinking. Sites: Rutgers (New Brunswick), Fordham, Yale and Harvard. Aided by NEH, Fordham Rockefeller, and Schultz Foundation Grants.
  • Publication by IAPC of first edition of Philosophical Inquiry, with support from Schumann Foundation.
  • Publication by IAPC of first edition of Lisa, an ethics reader for children ages 12-13.

1977

  • Publication by IAPC of first edition of Ethical Inquiry, instructional manual to accompany Lisa.
  • Publication by IAPC of first edition of Philosophy in the Classroom.
  • Holding of five- to seven-day workshop/conferences for professors of philosophy. Sites: Michigan State University, University of Illinois at Champaign-Urbana and Albion College.
  • Beginning of in-service teacher education programs in New Jersey and a few other states.

1978

  • Publication by Temple University Press of Growing Up with Philosophy.
  • Publication by IAPC of Suki, for children ages 14-15.
  • Publication by IAPC of Mark, for secondary school students.
  • Development of Thinking About Thinking, a five-part filmstrip aimed at assisting the teaching with the logic portion of Harry.
  • Completion of experiment sponsored by New Jersey Department of Education and carried out under auspices of Educational Testing Service. Sites: Newark and Pompton Lakes, New Jersey.
  • Award by Rockefeller Foundation of three-year Research Scholar Grant.
  • Beginning of utilization of Pocono Environmental Education Center in Dingman’s Falls, Pennsylvania, for the purpose of training future teacher educators, as well as for summer teacher-education workshops.

1979

  • Publication of Vol. 1, No. 1 of Thinking: The Journal of Philosophy for Children.
  • Publication by IAPC of Mark, for children ages 16-17.

1980

  • Publication by IAPC of Social Inquiry, manual to accompany Mark.
  • Publication by Temple University Press of second edition of Philosophy in the Classroom.
  • Publication by IAPC of Writing: How and Why, manual to accompany Suki.
  • Publication by Harvard University Press of Philosophy and the Young Child by Gareth B. Matthews.

1981

  • Completion of Educational Testing Service (ETS) one-year experiment – a study of 4,500 New Jersey students in 10 demographically diverse communities, under direction of ETS Senior Research Psychologist, Dr. Virginia Shipman.
  • Holding of International Conference for Teacher Educators in Philosophy for Children, MSC.
  • Publication by IAPC of Pixie for children ages 9-10.

1982

  • Award of three-year research grant by Schumann Foundation.
  • Publication by IAPC of Kio and Gus, for children ages 9-10.
  • Publication by IAPC of Looking for Meaning, instructional manual to accompany Pixie.

1983

  • Publication by Arden Press of Ronald Reed’s Talking with Children.
  • Completion of New Jersey Test of Reasoning.
  • Publication by IAPC of revised edition of philosophical inquiry.
  • Publication by IAPC of New Jersey Test of Reasoning.
  • Formation at MSC of International Council for Elementary and Secondary School Philosophy as well as the Center for Cognitive Growth in Early Childhood, both of which were short-lived predecessors of the International Council for Philosophical Inquiry with Children (ICPIC).
  • Publication by Harvard University Press of America of Philosophical Adventures with Children by Michael Pritchard.
  • Founding of ICPIC following one of the first workshops for the training of trainers held outside the United States. This one was held in Denmark. (Subsequent ICPIC conferences have been held in Spain, Austria, Brazil, Mexico and China.)
  • Discontinuation of use of Pocono Environmental Education Center for training of trainers and beginning of utilization instead of St. Marguerite’s Retreat House in Mendham, New Jersey, for one 10-day and two two-week sessions each year.
  • Beginning of master’s program in Teaching Philosophy to Children at MSC.

1986

  • Philosophy for Children designated a “meritorious educational program” by the National Diffusion Network of the U.S. Department of Education and given annually renewable dissemination support.
  • Publication by IAPC of Wondering at the World, instructional manual to accompany Kio and Gus.

1987

  • Publication by IAPC of Elfie, for children ages 6-8.

1988

  • Publication by Temple University Press of Philosophy goes to School.
  • Publication by IAPC of Getting Our Thoughts Together, instructional manual to accompany Elfie.
  • Establishment at Montclair State College of Institute for Critical Thinking (ICT).

1989

  • Beginnings of support by ICT of IAPC through the funding of fellowships for Visiting Scholars and assistantship for master’s students.

1990

  • BBC produces Socrates for Six-Year-Olds, a one hour film on Philosophy for Children, and shows it in Britain, the United States, Japan, Israel and other countries around the world.

1991

  • Publication by Cambridge University Press of Thinking in Education.
  • Publication by Kendall/Hunt of Children in Chaos by Leonard Harris.

1992

  • Publication by Temple University Press of Studies in Philosophy for Children: Harry Stottlemeier’s Discovery.

1993

  • Publication by Kendall/Hunt of Thinking Children and Education.
  • Publication of Thinking Stories, Vol. 1, ed. By Phil Cam (Australia)

1994

  • Publication of Thinking Stories, Vol. 2, ed. By Phil Cam (Australia).
  • Reissue (in paperback) by Kendall/Hunt of Growing Up With Philosophy.
  • Publication by Harvard University Press of The Philosophy of Childhood by Gareth Matthews.

1995

  • Montclair State College becomes Montclair State University. Philosophy for Children revalidated by National Diffusion Network. Doctoral programs in Philosophy for Children begin to make their appearance.

1996

  • EdD in Pedagogy, Specialization in Philosophy for Children begun at Montclair State University.

2002

  • Matthew Lipman retires from Montclair State University as Professor Emeritus; Professor Maughn Gregory becomes IAPC Director.