Comments on: Philosophy as the Missing Link in Our School’s Curriculum http://www.sharpbrains.com/blog/2008/10/12/philosophy-as-the-missing-link-in-our-school%e2%80%99s-curriculum/ Brain Fitness and Cognitive Health news Fri, 09 Jan 2009 23:10:34 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.0.5 by: L. Smith http://www.sharpbrains.com/blog/2008/10/12/philosophy-as-the-missing-link-in-our-school%e2%80%99s-curriculum/#comment-213351 Tue, 02 Dec 2008 04:41:43 +0000 http://www.sharpbrains.com/blog/2008/10/12/philosophy-as-the-missing-link-in-our-school%e2%80%99s-curriculum/#comment-213351 There is a distinct and critical difference between teaching and training. In both cases the "student" learn but they learn understanding if they're effectively taught something and they learn skills if they are effectively trained on something. The involvement of the federal, state, and municipal governments in overseeing funding to schools had perpetrated a need to measure whether or not students are learning anything. The simple-minded approach to perform this measurement (we are talking about civil servents here, are we not?) invariably has precipitated to parochial and subjective assessments causing teachers whose livelihoods are at stake to be compelled to train their students to perform better on these measurement tests. The end result is that there is no time left over in the school day to teach and educate the students. We need to address this problem by backing away from standards of learning and from expecting the traditional school and teacher model to suddenly start working. Take a look at the end-to-end treatment and actionable recommendations in the recently released commission report, "Education in America -- What's to Be Done?" developed by Trigon-International to see how this problem is best addressed. There is a distinct and critical difference between teaching and training. In both cases the "student" learn but they learn understanding if they're effectively taught something and they learn skills if they are effectively trained on something. The involvement of the federal, state, and municipal governments in overseeing funding to schools had perpetrated a need to measure whether or not students are learning anything. The simple-minded approach to perform this measurement (we are talking about civil servents here, are we not?) invariably has precipitated to parochial and subjective assessments causing teachers whose livelihoods are at stake to be compelled to train their students to perform better on these measurement tests. The end result is that there is no time left over in the school day to teach and educate the students. We need to address this problem by backing away from standards of learning and from expecting the traditional school and teacher model to suddenly start working. Take a look at the end-to-end treatment and actionable recommendations in the recently released commission report, "Education in America --- What's to Be Done?" developed by Trigon-International to see how this problem is best addressed.

]]> by: Alvaro Fernandez http://www.sharpbrains.com/blog/2008/10/12/philosophy-as-the-missing-link-in-our-school%e2%80%99s-curriculum/#comment-196906 Fri, 17 Oct 2008 21:34:27 +0000 http://www.sharpbrains.com/blog/2008/10/12/philosophy-as-the-missing-link-in-our-school%e2%80%99s-curriculum/#comment-196906 Hello Ray, let me put that "Why do you ask?" in practice... 1) why do you comment? 2) Why do we think the sky is blue? :-) I agree with the need to truly interact with all minds (young and old alike), engaging with people in a meaningful, not patronizing manner. I also agree that questions themselves provide much information on questioner's mind, and clues for how to answer. Having said that, the reason why we have frontal lobes is because it is not always the case that our first, automatic, "intuitive", answer is the right one. Philosophy may help us question and refine over time our "intuitions". Hello Ray, let me put that "Why do you ask?" in practice...

1) why do you comment?
2) Why do we think the sky is blue? :-)

I agree with the need to truly interact with all minds (young and old alike), engaging with people in a meaningful, not patronizing manner. I also agree that questions themselves provide much information on questioner's mind, and clues for how to answer.

Having said that, the reason why we have frontal lobes is because it is not always the case that our first, automatic, "intuitive", answer is the right one.

Philosophy may help us question and refine over time our "intuitions".

]]> by: Ray http://www.sharpbrains.com/blog/2008/10/12/philosophy-as-the-missing-link-in-our-school%e2%80%99s-curriculum/#comment-196551 Thu, 16 Oct 2008 21:23:51 +0000 http://www.sharpbrains.com/blog/2008/10/12/philosophy-as-the-missing-link-in-our-school%e2%80%99s-curriculum/#comment-196551 The basis of teaching children the process of philosophy is to encourage their innate curiousity. Why is the sky blue? I have the belief that our first, intuitive answer to a question is always more correct than any subsequent answer, acknowledging further explanation of the subject not withstanding. I liken our intellect to that of painting pictures. The more we know about something the bigger the areas of that subjects colour. Our task as parents and role models is to allow the mind to be expanded by encouraging the curiousity of our children to expand their pictures horizons. This is very easily achieved by adults having the time to not just answering in the practical, go away, manner we tend to, but to practice replying with another question. At the very least, "Why do you ask?". I believe that when asked a question, everything we know about the subject, ie: all the colour, comes together so that we not only answer that question but have all the information (everything we know) available attempt to answer whatever the next question may be. I also believe that when the direction of questioning becomes apparent the bits of colour, our mind considers we no longer need, drop away. The modern pace of life has taken away the "whittling" time of families and replaced it with the technological rush of facts and the, "what are you doing for the future?" demands for our children to have some economic purpose. Philosophy! Think reflective conversations that quietly and without fuss expands the philosophical base of our children's thinking. The basis of teaching children the process of philosophy is to encourage their innate curiousity. Why is the sky blue?
I have the belief that our first, intuitive answer to a question is always more correct than any subsequent answer, acknowledging further explanation of the subject not withstanding. I liken our intellect to that of painting pictures. The more we know about something the bigger the areas of that subjects colour. Our task as parents and role models is to allow the mind to be expanded by encouraging the curiousity of our children to expand their pictures horizons. This is very easily achieved by adults having the time to not just answering in the practical, go away, manner we tend to, but to practice replying with another question. At the very least, "Why do you ask?". I believe that when asked a question, everything we know about the subject, ie: all the colour, comes together so that we not only answer that question but have all the information (everything we know) available attempt to answer whatever the next question may be. I also believe that when the direction of questioning becomes apparent the bits of colour, our mind considers we no longer need, drop away.
The modern pace of life has taken away the "whittling" time of families and replaced it with the technological rush of facts and the, "what are you doing for the future?" demands for our children to have some economic purpose.
Philosophy! Think reflective conversations that quietly and without fuss expands the philosophical base of our children's thinking.

]]> by: Alvaro http://www.sharpbrains.com/blog/2008/10/12/philosophy-as-the-missing-link-in-our-school%e2%80%99s-curriculum/#comment-196229 Wed, 15 Oct 2008 17:05:53 +0000 http://www.sharpbrains.com/blog/2008/10/12/philosophy-as-the-missing-link-in-our-school%e2%80%99s-curriculum/#comment-196229 Kent, thank you for a beautiful comment, and quote! Kent, thank you for a beautiful comment, and quote!

]]> by: Kent @ The Financial Philosopher http://www.sharpbrains.com/blog/2008/10/12/philosophy-as-the-missing-link-in-our-school%e2%80%99s-curriculum/#comment-195940 Tue, 14 Oct 2008 13:31:10 +0000 http://www.sharpbrains.com/blog/2008/10/12/philosophy-as-the-missing-link-in-our-school%e2%80%99s-curriculum/#comment-195940 Young people are profound examples of all of our struggles to cope with emotion. As teenagers, they are introduced to an array of complex emotions for the first time. Just as with adults, children need a strong coping mechanism, an adequate perception of an ever-changing world, and a foundation for knowing how to act. Imagine a teenager, experiencing complex and overwhelming emotions for the first time, finding comfort that their "feelings" are simply part of the overall human experience and, while their experience may be difficult now, their feelings are normal and they will pass with time. Philosophy will have already given the otherwise troubled teen a fundamental sense of self-acquaintance that includes their own given personal skills and traits but also those of being human. Perhaps Doctors could "prescribe" a consistent dose of philosophy rather than ritalin... "Let no one delay the study of philosophy when young nor weary of it when old." Epicurus (341 - 270BC) Young people are profound examples of all of our struggles to cope with emotion.

As teenagers, they are introduced to an array of complex emotions for the first time. Just as with adults, children need a strong coping mechanism, an adequate perception of an ever-changing world, and a foundation for knowing how to act.

Imagine a teenager, experiencing complex and overwhelming emotions for the first time, finding comfort that their "feelings" are simply part of the overall human experience and, while their experience may be difficult now, their feelings are normal and they will pass with time. Philosophy will have already given the otherwise troubled teen a fundamental sense of self-acquaintance that includes their own given personal skills and traits but also those of being human.

Perhaps Doctors could "prescribe" a consistent dose of philosophy rather than ritalin...

"Let no one delay the study of philosophy when young nor weary of it when old." Epicurus (341 - 270BC)

]]> by: Alvaro Fernandez http://www.sharpbrains.com/blog/2008/10/12/philosophy-as-the-missing-link-in-our-school%e2%80%99s-curriculum/#comment-195727 Mon, 13 Oct 2008 21:27:39 +0000 http://www.sharpbrains.com/blog/2008/10/12/philosophy-as-the-missing-link-in-our-school%e2%80%99s-curriculum/#comment-195727 Hello Tim, Thank you for your great comment. Let's put that philosophy to the test: how would you encourage your clients to see the big picture on why themselves, and their organizations, would benefit from paying more attention to emerging applications (and implications) of brain research? Btw, I agree that critical thinking itself is a much-needed cognitive function to succeed in today's and tomorrow's world, and that school would benefit from innovative approaches there (perhaps even formal philosophy). Regards Hello Tim,

Thank you for your great comment.

Let's put that philosophy to the test: how would you encourage your clients to see the big picture on why themselves, and their organizations, would benefit from paying more attention to emerging applications (and implications) of brain research?

Btw, I agree that critical thinking itself is a much-needed cognitive function to succeed in today's and tomorrow's world, and that school would benefit from innovative approaches there (perhaps even formal philosophy).

Regards

]]> by: Tim http://www.sharpbrains.com/blog/2008/10/12/philosophy-as-the-missing-link-in-our-school%e2%80%99s-curriculum/#comment-195496 Mon, 13 Oct 2008 04:36:03 +0000 http://www.sharpbrains.com/blog/2008/10/12/philosophy-as-the-missing-link-in-our-school%e2%80%99s-curriculum/#comment-195496 Nice article, there is hope! However a more interesting question would be 'why' isn't philosophy and especially critical thinking taught in school. I was born this way and it gave me no end of hassle from particular teachers in school as I read voraciously and constantly questioned (still do!). I was even recommended for 'therapy' because of my perceived bad attitude... I can't remember who the quote is from but it goes along the lines of, "how can one be a well adjusted member of society when society is so mal-adjusted" - I kid you not, that got me detention! It probably didn't help my mother storming into school and going ballistic with the headmaster though (UK school). I'm well over it now ;) The irony is now I get paid very well to question business people's beliefs and ideas to help them see a bigger picture :) Nice article, there is hope! However a more interesting question would be 'why' isn't philosophy and especially critical thinking taught in school. I was born this way and it gave me no end of hassle from particular teachers in school as I read voraciously and constantly questioned (still do!).
I was even recommended for 'therapy' because of my perceived bad attitude...
I can't remember who the quote is from but it goes along the lines of, "how can one be a well adjusted member of society when society is so mal-adjusted" - I kid you not, that got me detention! It probably didn't help my mother storming into school and going ballistic with the headmaster though (UK school). I'm well over it now ;)
The irony is now I get paid very well to question business people's beliefs and ideas to help them see a bigger picture :)

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