Developed by Mathew Lipman in New York 40 years ago, Philosophy for Children (P4C) draws on Socratic questioning, Vygotsky’s constructivism and Dewey’s ideas of democracy in education. He wanted children to become “more thoughtful, more reflective, more considerate and more reasonable individuals”. Since then P4C has been taken up in over 60 countries around the world. It first came to China in 2013 as part of Xiehe’s ‘East Meets West’ educational initiatives in Shanghai.
P4C helps students progress educationally, personally and socially, and creates a more collaborative and respectful school environment. With P4C, students learn to make wiser choices, think more clearly, express themselves better, and listen more carefully.
P4C helps teachers to develop their craft, where they teach through dialogue, facilitate student-led enquiries, and get to know their students better.
