Centre for Teaching Excellence

Many years ago, as a student, I worked in a clothes shop. Recently, my friend, Rebecca, reminded me of a conversation she’d had with our boss. Rebecca had made a suggestion and was told emphatically by the manager, “You’re not paid to think!” Ouch!

There can’t be many who’d subscribe to the idea that there are some who can or should think and others who can’t or shouldn’t – paid or otherwise. In this session, we’ll explore a particular kind of thinking – philosophical thinking. I can be sure our manager all those years ago wouldn’t have had time for this kind of thinking at all. However, it has much to offer children, young people and their teachers. By drawing on classroom-based research, we’ll explore why philosophical thinking is more than a good idea; it offers something rich and exciting for pupils and their teachers in school and beyond. I’ll share some practical ideas to take into the classroom with some advice on how success might be captured. We’ll also have time for discussion, though I can’t guarantee this will be philosophical in nature!