TERM PROGRAMS

PLEASE NOTE THESE OPPORTUNITIES ARE NOT ORGANISED BY THINKING AHEAD.
Contact presenters directly for more information

SIMON KIDD'S PHILOSOPHY CLUB
Philosophy Club will continue in 2011
This after school opportunity proved very popular in 2010 and feedback from parents was very positive.

Simon will be offering Philosophy Club on a Wednesday afternoon from 4 - 5pm.

Sessions will be held in the Carnaby Room at Morelina School, Mt Claremont.

Please contact Simon to register for these sessions

TThe sessions are suitable for children aged 10 - 13 years ofd age. Consideration will be given to exceptionally gifted and articulate 9 year olds (please contact Simon for more information). Sorry no sessions for younger children at this time. If there is sufficient interest sessions may also run on a second afternoon.

About the Philosophy Club
Have you ever wondered what life is all about? Why are we here? How should we live? And what will happen when we die? Can we even know the answers to such questions? What can we know? Does science have all the answers? What about religion? People have always pondered such questions. When we think about such things, we are doing philosophy (or philosophising) and we are following in the footsteps of great philosophers. Philosophy is a rational activity - when we philosophise, we use our reason to investigate things. We consider arguments for and against the claims that people make. This is an extension of what we do in our everyday lives, but in philosophy we take it to a new level. One of the most significant things that philosophy does is to expose poor reasoning, or fallacies.

Children are natural philosophers, because they wonder so easily about everything. As well as being an outlet for this tendency, philosophy is an excellent training for the mind. The mental habits acquired through sustained philosophical activity can empower children in so many ways - in verbal and written communication, in school and in personal relationships, in making judgments. The Philosophy for Children (P4C) movement has existed for several decades, and the benefits of children doing philosophy have been recognised. See the following articles, for example: The Examined Life, Age 8 or Get ‘em while they’re young

The Philosophy Club will provide an enjoyable introduction to the themes and practices of philosophy. Movies and stories will provide a stimulus for discussion, and thinking skills will be acquired in the process. It will be a place for open-minded and challenging investigation of topics that are often neglected in the standard school curriculum. Participants will be invited by email to join the Perth Philosophers wiki, where discussions can be initiated and continued between sessions, and where there will be an opportunity for interaction with other primary-aged students who are doing philosophy.

ABOUT SIMON
Simon Kidd has Master degrees in Philosophy and Primary Teaching, and is currently teaching at Hale School. He is on the committee of the Association for Philosophy in Schools and a facilitator at the interschool Philosothon. He is passionate about encouraging philosophical thinking skills in children, including his own (aged 11 and 9).
Click here to view his blog and the Philosophy Club page on his blog.

Cost is $15 per session.
Full payment for the term should be made prior to the start of the program.

PLEASE CONTACT SIMON TO REGISTER

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MURDOCH Prep and Primer Classes
Prep Flier Yr 6 and above
Primer Flier Yr 10 - 12 students

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