This research project aims to clarify the significance of philosophy education in elementary and secondary schools (junior high and high schools). Based on our methodological and empirical experiences, we seek to construct concrete and effective programs for promoting philosophy education in schools.
This project deals with four tasks:
- Basic and theoretical research on the significance and methodology of philosophy education in elementary and secondary schools (junior high and high schools).
- Field research and investigation of developing philosophy education in elementary and secondary schools (junior high and high schools) in Japan; as well as joint researches and empirical projects with educators and researchers.
- Field research and investigation of developing philosophy education in elementary and secondary schools (junior high and high schools) overseas; as well as joint researches and empirical projects with educators and researchers.
- Preparations, pre-operational trials, and cultivation of effective programs of philosophy education.
1. Basic and theoretical research on the significance and methodology of philosophy education in elementary, junior high and high schools.
In 1995, UNESCO signed the Paris Declaration for Philosophy, recognizing the importance of cultivating the awareness of citizenship in democratic society. It also recognized an important role that philosophy education can play in elementary and secondary schools (junior high and high schools).
How exactly does the education of philosophy promote and engender awareness of citizenship? With this question in mind, it is the aim of this research project to provide clear and concrete theoretical explanations for this point.
The significance of philosophy education is multifaceted. For example, it fosters critical thinking skills to think from within oneself. Philosophical thinking helps one to develop reflective thinking skills by making one conscious of the process of reasoning and argumentation. It also nourishes collaborative thinking skills through which one learns from dialogues and thinks together in the community. These thinking skills are essential and they form the basis for other academic subjects. By cultivating these skills, we believe that contributions to the improvement of basic scholastic achievement are possible.
2. Field research and investigation of developing philosophy education in elementary and secondary schools (junior high and high schools) in Japan; as well as joint researches and empirical projects with educators and researchers.
The history of philosophy education in Japan is rather new. However, some people have engaged in various kinds of research and projects in elementary and secondary schools (junior high and high schools). We will investigate many case studies and launch many joint-research projects.
These joint-research projects will allow researchers and practitioners to share research results and practical knowledge. We will further investigate and partake in various case studies with close examination of methods, taking in consideration the particularities of the current educational environment in Japan.
3. Field research and investigation of developing philosophy education in elementary and secondary schools (junior high and high schools) overseas; as well as joint researches and empirical projects with educators and researchers.
We hope to deepen our experiences by engaging in projects with researchers overseas. By doing so, we hope to use our experience to expand our teaching methods. It is also our fascination to transmit and communicate our experiences and get critical examinations and advices from researchers and practitioners overseas.
4. Preparations, pre-operational trials, and cultivation of effective programs of philosophy education.
The final goal of this research project would be to present a concrete and practical program of philosophy education for elementary and secondary schools (junior high and high schools). We construct educational programs through our mission statement 1, 2 and 3; acting them out in the fields of education, ameliorating the practicalities of these programs through feedback.
