News and Events

2008

6th December 2008: ABC: The Philosopher's Zone: Teaching children to be philosophers.

Listen to the full transcript of The Philosopher's Zone where Prof. Phil Cam from the University of NSW speaks about the benefits of having Philosophy for Children within the curriculum. The Philosopher's Zone visit Stanmore Public School where P4C has been operating for two years; speak to the Principal Frances Larkin, Dan Smith a Year 6 teacher and Year 6 students about P4C.

Please note that Prof. Cam will be one of our leading presenters at the Level 2 Training Workshop in January - see below.

2009

SOPHY NEWS and EVENTS
 

The Federation of Australasian Philosophy in Schools Association (FAPSA)

LEVEL 2 TRAINING WORKSHOP

Venue: Galong and dates: 4.30pm January 19th – 23rd 2009

Click here to obtain a map and details about how to get to this venue.

Cost:

Level 2 Registration	$1700
Early Bird Registration (to December 4)	$1500
Student Concession	$1160

 

The fee for the workshop includes accommodation, materials, morning and afternoon tea and lunch dinner and supper

Registration

Click on the linked Registration Form, print, and send the form and your cheque to FAPSA's Treasurer, Michael Walsh, PO Box 3768, Manuka 2603 ACT, AUSTRALIA

Who Should Come?

This workshop is open to any Educator or Philosopher; however, it is designed to prepare interested and suitably qualified people to introduce teachers and philosophers to the practice of philosophy with children.

Those who successfully complete the course will be accredited by FAPSA either as a Teacher Educator (Philosophy) or a Teacher Educator (Teaching), depending upon their background.

Occasionally someone will satisfy both conditions, but those who do not will be encouraged to add to their particular strength by working in their less strong domain: Philosophers are encouraged to gain teaching experience by working with children, and Teachers to extend their knowledge of academic philosophy by further study.

KEY PRESENTERS:

Associate Professor Philip Cam is well known nationally and internationally as a leading advocate of Philosophy for Children using a literature approach. Philip Cam is Associate Professor in the School of Philosophy at the University of New South Wales. He was a founding member of the NSW Philosophy in Schools Association, was twice President of the Federation of Australasian Philosophy for Children Associations, and has many years of experience in teacher education.

Philip has written extensively for children and teachers, including publication of the Thinking Stories series of books, Thinking Together: Philosophical Inquiry for the Classroom, and Twister, Quibbler, Puzzler, Cheat, a collection of stories based on classical and modern paradoxes.

He has been invited to run workshops in many countries and his work has been translated into several languages. Philip is an external member of faculty at the Institute for the Advancement of Philosophy for Children at Montclair State University in New Jersey, is currently Chair of the Asia-Pacific Philosophy Education Network for Democracy, and has edited a series of books on philosophy, democracy, education and human values in association with UNESCO.

Professor Laurance Splitter holds Honours degrees in philosophy and mathematics from Monash University, and Masters and Doctorate degrees in philosophy, from the University of Oxford, where he studied as a Rhodes Scholar. In 1997 he was elected a Fellow of the Australian College of Education. His early work in education centred on introducing philosophy into Australian schools, and his long-standing commitment to the teaching of higher-order/critical thinking, inquiry and dialogue to children and adults.

From 1988 to June 2001, he was Principal Research Fellow and Director of the Centre for Philosophy with Children and Adolescents, within the Australian Council for Educational Research. He has conducted workshops, seminars and conference sessions with children, educators, and parent groups in 17 countries around the world. Dr. Splitter has published widely in the areas of philosophy for children. After seven years of university teaching in the USA, he is now working as a senior professor in Hong Kong.

For further enquiries, or to lodge an expression of interest, please contact
Catherine Geraghty-Slavica, on 62582798, 0400077760
e-mail catherinegs@bigpond.com.au

 

FAPSA: Biennial Strategic Planning Conference and Annual General Meeting

Date: January 24th and 25th 2009

Venue:
School of Humanities Conference room
ANU College of Arts & Social Sciences
Bldg 14, A.D. Hope Building
The Australian National University
Canberra ACT 0200 Australia

Keynote speakers
Professor Laurance Splitter
Professor Phil Cam

Registration and Conference Program

Please click here to print out the Registration form and send this form along with your cheque to Michael Walsh, PO Box 3768, Manuka 2603 ACT, AUSTRALIA

 

February

The Philosophy in Schools Association of New South Wales

Teacher Training Workshop with Philip Cam and Greg Leaney at Cranbrook School

Date: Sunday February 15, 2009

Time: 9.30-3.30

Cost: $90 (members) or $120 (non-members)* Includes a light lunch

Description: This day is open to anyone who has had at least one day of in-service in Philosophy in Schools. By attending this workshop and completing a short lesson report participants will complete a Level 1 Certificate in Teaching Philosophy in Schools.

Please reply to p.cam@unsw.edu.au by February the 2nd so as to assist us with catering. And do let us know of any dietary restrictions.

A map of the venue and other details will be sent to participants in early February.

* Advance payment can be made by cheque. Cheques should be made payable to The Philosophy in Schools Association of NSW. Payment by cheque or in cash can also be made on the day of the workshop. The Association will issue an invoice to schools only if this is requested in advance.

Philosophy in Schools Association of NSW
97B Gowrie Street, Newtown
NSW 2042

International News

Annual Philosophy for Children Conference & Workshop

January 3 - 11, 2009

San Cristobal de las Casas,
Chiapas, Mexico

For more information, click here.