Philosothon
A Philosothon is an annual competition wherein students explore philosophical and ethical issues. Philosothons are held in all Australian states, New Zealand, and the UK.[1][2][3]
At a Philosothon school aged students are assessed by university based professional philosophers and score highly where they demonstrate rigour and clarity of thought. An essential component of a Philosothon is the pedagogical model for teaching Philosophy to young people called Community of inquiry. The event has grown alongside and within the Philosophy for Children movement. The first Australasian Philosothon was held at Cranbrook School, Sydney in 2011[4][5] and the first UK Philosothon was held in 2012 at King's College, Taunton.[6]
History
In 2007, Hale School in Perth Western Australia initiated a project to promote higher order thinking among secondary school students. At the first Philosothon nine local high school teams, each including five students came together for an evening of philosophical investigation. The word 'Philosothon' was created in the first few years of the event by Matthew Wills and Leanne Rucks.[7][8]
Recent history
Following the first Philosothon it was decided to promote the event more broadly to other schools around the country and later in the UK. Philosothons now take place annually in each Australian capital city and in regional locations around the country. They also take place in the UK[9] Recently Primary school Philosothons have been conducted in various Art Galleries in some Australian states and in the UK.[10][11]
In 2017 The Templeton Religion Trust awarded $281,656 AUD to the Philosothon project in order to "grow existing Philosothons and support the establishment of new ones, particularly in remote schools and at schools catering for students from low socio-economic backgrounds" in Australasia.[12]
Rationale and process
The rationale for the Philosothon methodology is based on empirical evidence that teaching children reasoning skills early in life greatly improves other cognitive and academic skills and greatly assists learning in general.[13] Students are given the topic questions in advance and some stimulus reading materials.[14]
Examples of topic questions from recent Philosothons are these:
- Is it moral to fake kindness? (Moral Philosophy)
- Do men and woman have different natures? (Metaphysical)
- Do you have free will? (Metaphysical)
- Should you always listen to the opinions of others? (Epistemology)
- How free should speech be? (Political Philosophy)
Students, teachers and parents gather on a particular evening each year for the event. The students participate in a series of Communities of Inquiry which are facilitated by teachers or Phd. philosophy students from the local universities. While participating in this process students are scored by Philosophy lecturers also from local universities. The scores are then collated, ranked and later in the evening awards are given to students at each age level and encouragement awards to the most promising male and female philosopher. Also a trophy is awarded to the winning school.[15]
Criticisms and responses
Some might argue that Philosophy cannot be undertaken in the context of a competition.[16] They believe that by ranking individuals the process of developing a Community of Philosophical Inquiry is fundamentally compromised. However, others have responded that many students forget they are involved in a competition and engage in the exact sort of investigation and collaboration we would hope to see in Philosophy. Others have suggested that the same process is undertaken in any academic institution, tertiary or secondary where students are ranked against criteria. The only difference is that one of the more important criteria in a COI is collaboration.[17]
Australasian Philosothon
In July 2011 the Federation of Australasian Philosophy in Schools Associations (FAPSA) decided to host the first National Philosothon at Cranbrook School. Each Australian state sent three teams (those schools that won the 2010 Philosothon in each state) and so twelve schools in total arrived in Sydney to participate in the inaugural event.[18][19][20] [21] The 2012 it was held at Bond University and AB Paterson College on the Gold Coast. In 2013 it was held in Melbourne, Victoria and hosted by the National Art Gallery of Victoria and Ballarat Grammar's City campus. In 2014 Hale School in Perth Western Australia hosted the event.[22] and in 2015 North Sydney Girls High School hosted the 5th Annual FAPSA Australasian Philosothon. In 2016 Churchie in Brisbane hosted it and in 2017 St Andrew's Cathedral College in Sydney hosted the event.
Other countries
Philosothons have been run in the UK since 2013. Revd. Mark Smith & Julie Arliss from the Philosophy of Religion and Ethics Department at King's College, Taunton, UK, have spearheaded the Philosothon movement in the United Kingdom in collaboration with Dr Michael Lacewing from Heythrop College and Lizzy Lewis from Sapere.[23] Wells Cathedral College won the first event. Since then Philosothons have been run annually around the UK including many Primary School Philosothons hosted by the Philosophy Foundation. Other Philosothons have been held around the UK.[24]
Primary and Middle School Philosothons
In 2012 an inaugural Primary School Philosothon was held at the National Gallery of Victoria (NGV).[25][26] [27] In 2013 the first WA Primary school Philosothon was hosted by John XXIII College at the Art Gallery of WA. Since then Annual Primary School Philosothons have been conducted in Victoria, WA and the UK.[28]
Results
| Australasian Philosothons | First | Second | Third | Host |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2011 | Christ Church Grammar School[29] (WA) | McKinnon Secondary College (VIC) | Perth College (WA) | Cranbrook School (NSW) |
| 2012 | Hale School (WA) | Guildford Grammar School (WA) | Bishop Druitt College (NSW) | AB Paterson College (QLD) |
| 2013 | Raffles Girls' School (Singapore) | Wesley College (WA) | Ballarat Grammar School (VIC) | Ballarat Grammar School (VIC) |
| 2014 | North Sydney Girls High School (NSW) | Hale School (WA) | Ballarat Grammar School (VIC) | Hale School (WA) |
| 2015 | North Sydney Girls High School (NSW) | Scotch College (WA) | Hale School (WA) | North Sydney Girls HS (NSW)[30] |
| 2016 | Scotch College (WA) | Hale School (WA) | Anglican Church Grammar School (QLD) | Anglican Church Grammar School (QLD) |
| 2017 | North Sydney Girls High School (NSW) | McKinnon Secondary College (VIC) | Hale School (WA) | St Andrews Cathedral School (NSW) |
| Northern NSW Philosothon | First | First Div A | First Div B | Host |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2012 | Bishop Druitt College | Alstonville High School | Bishop Druitt College | |
| 2013 | Bishop Druitt College | John Paul College | Lindisfarne Anglican School | Bishop Druitt College |
| 2014 | Bishop Druitt College | Bellingen High School | The Armidale School | Bishop Druitt College |
| South Australian Philosothon | First | First Div A | First Div B | Host |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2017 | Seymour College | St Peters Girls School | St Peter's College | Prince Alfred College |
References
- ^ Wills, Matthew. "The 2009 Sir Vincent Fairfax Family Foundation Ethics in Leadership Fellowship" (PDF). Fellowship Report. Winston Churchill Trust. Retrieved 10 January 2012.
- ^ "UK Philosothon website".
- ^ Pritchett, Mark. "The Wellington News". Wellington Weekly. Retrieved 12 March 2017.
- ^ Saunders, Alan. "The Philosophers Zone". ABC. Retrieved 10 January 2012.
- ^ Rocca, Michelle. "The Victorian Association for Philosophy in Schools". VAPS. Retrieved 11 November 2015.
- ^ "Independent Education Today".
- ^ "Philosothon Website". History. Philosothon. Retrieved 15 May 2017.
- ^ "Philosothon Website". History. Philosothon. Retrieved 10 January 2012.
- ^ "University of Queenland Philosothon". History. University of Queensland. Retrieved 11 November 2015.
- ^ Worley, Peter. "Philosophy Foundation".
- ^ Etherton, Rosemary. "The National Gallery of Victoria".
- ^ W., Justin. "Daily Nous".
- ^ Prof Stephan Millett, Dr Alan Tapper & (2011). "Educational Philosophy and Theory 'Benefits of Collaborative Philosophical Inquiry in Schools'" (PDF). Retrieved 10 January 2011.
- ^ "Philosothon Website". Resources. Philosothon. Retrieved 10 January 2012.
- ^ Flood, Gary & (2014). "A Marathon for the Mind". Retrieved 10 November 2014.
- ^ TALIAFERRO, CHARLES (2010). "Ask a Philosopher". Ask a Philosopher?. Retrieved 5 May 2017.
- ^ Wills, Matthew (2012). "Philosothon" (PDF). American Philosophical Association. 12 (1). Retrieved 12 March 2017.
- ^ "Australian Association of Philosophy". Retrieved 10 January 2012.
- ^ Dr Poulton, Janette. "-Victorian Association for Philosophy in Schools". Victorian Philosothon. VAPS. Retrieved 10 January 2012.
- ^ "FAPSA". Federal Association for Philosophy in Schools. FAPSA. Retrieved 10 January 2012.
- ^ "Philosophy Now UK Journal". National Philosothon. Philosophy Now. Retrieved 1 September 2014.
- ^ "FAPSA". ABC Drive Radio. ABC. Retrieved 10 July 2014.
- ^ http://www.kings-taunton.co.uk/philosothon/
- ^ Davies, Sian. "The Southern Daily Echo". Wellington Weekly. Retrieved 12 March 2017.
- ^ Worley, Peter. "Philosophy Foundation".
- ^ Etherton, Rosemary. "The National Gallery of Victoria".
- ^ Dr D'Olympio, Laura. "The Conversation".
- ^ "Philosophy Foundation Website".
- ^ "ChristChurch Grammar Website". Winner of National Philosothon cited. Christ Church Grammar. Retrieved 10 January 2012.
- ^ "Scotch College Website". Australasian Philosothon cited. Scotch College. Retrieved 10 November 2015.
- ^ "The West Australian". Australasian Philosothon cited. The West Australian Regional. Retrieved 11 November 2015.
- ^ "Wellington School Website".
- ^ "Independent Education Today".
- ^ "Wellington School Website".
- ^ "Independent Education Today".