Offering Philosophy on the High School Level

[joesteph]

Philosophy ("the love of wisdom") is usually offered on the college level, and sometimes it's part of the core curriculum. I was told years ago that it's too involved to be offered on the high school level, yet courses in psychology and sociology, both challenging disciplines, are found on that level.

After a good deal of searching, I found what I considered to be a good book for high school juniors and seniors for a high school philosophy course, and offered it as a half-year (one semester) course starting in 1993. I'm still teaching it.

Here's one of the written assignments I give to my students:

Why Is It Wrong?

Consider the following three questions:

1. Why is it wrong to lie?

2. Why is it wrong to cheat?

3. Why is it wrong to steal?

The person asking these questions is not afraid of being caught and punished. The person wants to know why it is wrong to do any of these things.

Your assignment is to explain what it means to lie, to cheat, to steal. Then you must explain why it is wrong to do each one of these. If you do not agree that it is wrong to do one or more of them, then explain why it is right (or, more neutrally if you prefer, why it is neither right nor wrong, just an action).

The students give well-reasoned written responses, and class discussion is very interesting.

Why do you suppose philosophy isn't offered more often on the high school level? Did you take philosophy in high school or college? Do you think that you would have (or would now) take philosophy in high school if it had been (or if it were) offered?

[bushido_man96]

I took it in college, but I didn't enjoy it as much as I thought I would. I don't know if I would have taken it in high school or not. Probably not, though. However, I think that if it is offered, then that is a good thing.

[DWx]

Philosophy was offered at my school but joint with Theology and Ethics. I had to study it anyway up until I was 16 but didn't take it for A-Levels, mainly because for the uni degree I wanted it wasn't that applicable and because they only ever did Western philosophy, not Eastern which I personally find more interesting. I don't think its too difficult or involved for high school though..

Coincedentally the BBC ran this article last week:

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/magazine/7739493.stm

[joesteph]

Coincedentally the BBC ran this article last week:

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/magazine/7739493.stm

Thanks for the BBC article link, DWx. I copied and pasted it (and will give all due credit; to do otherwise would be unethical). I can adapt it to my class.

[KarateEd]

One good thing about philosophy, and particularly the questions you pose your students, joesteph, is that it can provide ample opportunity for students to utilize higher-order thinking skills when answering a question. Simple recall would not be sufficient to answer your questions.

My high school didn't offer it.

[Shotokan-kez]

We didn't study philosophy in high school but we did study sociology at GCSE level , or O level.

In college though after leaving school you can take A levels or degrees in psychology and sociology.

I don't think its a too difficult subject to teach in high school and i personally think its good for kids. It gives them an idea of life and shows them the difference between right and wrong.

[JohnC]

I took it in High School but it wasn't called that. I was told some years later that it was dropped, along with courses that essentially taught critical thinking, rhetoric and argumentative form because:

It didn't fit in with the focus on reading, riting and rithmatic.

The grading was much too subjective and complaints were received from parents around grading.

Parents objected to some of the ideas expressed / taught in the classes.

Too many teachers used it as a way to spread their personal views rather than teach philosohy, etc.

[joesteph]

I was told some years later that it was dropped, along with courses that essentially taught critical thinking, rhetoric and argumentative form . . .

It's unfortunate. And not the only casualty.

It looks like philosophy (and related subjects) in your old school got caught between a "back to basics" movement and a "safe" focus on what may be discussed by high school students.

Sometimes, teachers of such courses are not necessarily teaching that their way of thinking is the "right" way, but that a student might be asked to explain his/her position, and then "Considering your position, what would you do in this case?" That can cause controversy if the student is holding a position taught at home (which is fine), but never thought about it and now asks about it when back home.

[JohnC]

I understand and, for the most part, agree.

However, we're not too far from the People's Republic of Boulder (where the University of Colorado resides (and of which I'm an alumnus)), a notorious hotbed of ultra liberal activity both now and in the 60s / 70s.

Thus, from experience I can say folks coming out of Boulder usually had a hidden agenda and rarely presented balanced views on almost any subject

(and they still tend to do that. Oe vay, I could tell you stories that would warp your mind, curve your spine and lose the war for the allies. )