Boys Inspired by P4C

In some of the secondary schools I've been working with, it seems that it is boys who are responding with the most enthusiasm to P4C. At one secondary school, nearly all of the participants in their recently established and very popular extra-curricular Philosophy Club are boys. The teacher in charge of the club is (pleasantly) astonished. She assumed that boys would prefer to be in the yard, playing football etc. She is also surprised as the club has attracted pupils of all abilities, not just more able pupils. I must admit that I am surprised by this phenomena, too, and I'd love to hear from other P4Cers on this issue. At a number of secondary schools, teachers have reported that it is boys who show the greatest enthusiasm for P4C in lessons and who ask for opportunities to do enquiries in future lessons.
Does this chime with your own experience, or is it completely contrary? Also, any ideas as to why P4C is making such an impression on (Key Stage 3) boys in particular. I'd also be interested to hear from primary teachers - are there noticeable, even surprising, differences in younger girls' and boys' responses to P4C?

P.S.
Searching cyberspace yesterday, I found this thought-provoking paper on P4C and gender (from Australia), which some of you may be interested in reading:
 http://www.aare.edu.au/07pap/ble07002.pdf

Your Granny or Your Goldfish?... and other great clips of P4C in Action

Some of you have been unable to find this great clip of P4C in action, so here it is:



There are lots of other great clips of P4C in action on YouTube, including some from the BBC's 'Socrates for Six Year Olds', which really sparked interest in P4C here in the UK.

The programme 'Child Philosophers' can be downloaded free from the Teachers' TV website and I can't recommend it highly enough. Here is the link:
http://www.teachers.tv/videos/thinking-skills-child-philosophers

Next CEWC-Cymru/Wiser Wales Network Meeting

Following on from the success of the recent network meeting at Ogmore Comprehensive School, here are the details of the next network meeting:

Wiser Wales Network Meeting

4 - 5pm  Thursday 5th May 2011

 Bryn Celynnog Comprehensive School, Beddau (CF32 2AE) 

The meeting is open to all teachers and other education professionals with an interest in P4C, and is a great opportunity to meet experienced practitioners of the P4C method and to exchange ideas at a school where P4C has successfully become part of teaching and learning culture.

I hope to see you there!

  

Philosophy Programmes on TV and Radio

There are some fantastic programmes on BBC 4 and Radio 4 at the moment that all P4Cers should know about:


'Justice' is a series of lectures by Michael Sandel, a political philosopher at Harvard. He has a great participatory style of lecturing and the series has been made in partnership with the Open University, so there are lots of supporting materials on the OU website, too.  
http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b00xyzjw

On Radio 4 (Sunday afternoons) there is 'In Doubt We Trust'  where Mark Vernon discusses the 'art of doubting' with philosophers and scientists. A great discussion on Socrates and Socratic questioning last Sunday. When training teachers in P4C the issue of whether introducing children to doubt is a good idea often arises. This programme has certainly opened my mind to different ways of looking at uncertainty and doubt. I'd love to know what you think!
http://www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/episode/b00zd8nx/In_Doubt_We_Trust_Episode_2/

They're on iPlayer at the moment, so catch them while you can!