Institute for the Advancement of Philosophy for Children
"P4C is one of the best things that has ever happened to me professionally. In one short year it has profoundly influenced and re-energized my teaching." Katrina Macht, Bridge Student
Overview of Graduate Studies in Philosophy for Children
Montclair State University offers two graduate degree programs in Philosophy for Children:
Our graduate programs are premised on the belief that we should be educating our students to make better judgments in their lives and living in communities better. It is our view that the best way to teach for both of these is through philosophical reflection in the classroom on matters of importance to the students. It is the give-and-take of such discussion when conducted in a disciplined fashion – referred to as 'the community of inquiry' - that stimulates students and teachers alike to think more critically, creatively and caringly. It is the rigorous dialogical procedure of the classroom with its emphasis on self-correction, active listening and intellectual cooperation that provides both a model for community and a model for self-corrective reflection on the part of the individual.
Our graduate students are introduced to Philosophy for Children curriculum materials and pedagogical methods that have been in development since the inception of Philosophy for Children in 1974. In so far as the four degree programs call upon dimensions of philosophical knowledge and expertise, these dimensions are woven into the structure of Philosophy for Children and are taught as an integrated part of the degree courses. Rather than seeing philosophy as limited to disciplinary knowledge, these programs see philosophy as involving collaborative inquiry, ("meaning-making") and the reflective use of thinking and reasoning skills, all of which are essential ingredients to good teaching across the disciplines.
Detailed information about each of the degree programs in Philosophy for Children is available from the Philosophy for Children Graduate Student Advisor:
Professor Maughn Gregory
Department of Educational Foundations
Montclair State University
Montclair, NJ 07043
Telephone: (973) 655-7049
Email: gregorym@mail.montclair.edu
Please refer to the Graduate Catalog for prerequisites and additional information on coursework and program requirements.
Students interested in applying for any of the graduate degrees in Philosophy for Children should
contact Montclair State University's Office of Graduate Admissions and Support Services to request an application.
Montclair State University
Office of Graduate Admissions and Support Services
1 Normal Avenue
Montclair, NJ 07043
Telephone: (973) 655-5147 or (800) 331-9207
Email: Graduate.School@Montclair.edu
Website: http://www.montclair.edu
On-line catalog: http://www.montclair.edu/catalog/graduatecat.html
Back to Top
Comments from past and present graduate students
"I found the P4C program particularly attractive because of its emphasis on dialogue, community of inquiry, and critical thinking. Whether you're a beginning teacher or a veteran, P4C offers various creative suggestions for cultivating a sense of intellectual freedom and egalitarianism within the classroom. I highly recommend this program for instructors who are interested in encouraging their students to analyze beyond the text, and relate complex issues in philosophy to life experience." -Ed.D student
"I have gone through both masters and doctoral level courses in the Philosophy for Children specialization at Montclair State University. A majority of the courses are structured as communities of inquiry, in which students bring in their ideas, share them with others, and jointly aim at developing deeper understanding of the topics and questions dealt with. This structure gives students a unique insight into in the pedagogy that the program advocates, as well as extensive experience with it. While this way of working makes for very rich learning experiences, it is also very challenging. It demands of the student that they are very clear about what they want to bring to the community, and what they want to focus on in their individual, written work. The community of inquiry also requires every participant to take on responsibility for the development of the class, both in terms of classroom atmosphere as well as in structuring the syllabus and reading agenda. Since most of us are brought up in schools where we have little power over what to read and write, and how to structure class sessions, this new learning environment takes time and effort to adjust to. But this is the work through which you break away from your own experience of schooling, and become a radically different kind of educator." -Ed.D. student
"My experience of Mendham was one of the most valuable experiences I have ever had in my education. The sessions are intense and extremely valuable in learning what the philosophy for children program entails. It was also very helpful to study with the numerous students from around the world to see how the program has been implemented globally." -Masters of Arts in Teaching student
Back to Top
What our graduate students are doing now
- Faculty members at Universities
- Graduate students in other philosophy and education programs.
- Authors of journal articles, trade books, children's books and curriculum in Philosophy for Children
- Philosophy for Children consultants to schools
- Researchers at Philosophy for Children Centers
- Directors and co-directors of Philosophy for Children Centers
- Teachers at Elementary and Secondary schools
- Producers of educational curriculum
- Education journalist for The New York Times
Back to Top
|
|
