The authors describe the organization of a review of research literature on the relationship between Philosophy for/with Children (P4/wC) and religious education/education for spirituality (RE-EfS). They summarize a debate about whether the two are mutually enhancing or incompatible. They explain delimiting the scope of the project and present a grid of research questions used to analyze the literature. They summarize findings on how P4/wC is relevant to five categories of aims of RE-EfS: hermeneutical, cultural, socio-political, moral/spiritual, and epistemological. Many papers (...) in the latter category promote P4/wC as a method for children’s epistemic agency in constructing their religious beliefs. Some respond to objections that children may reject traditional beliefs. Few address potential confusion and angst of children asked to question and defend their religious views. The authors conclude that the pragmatic thrust of P4/wC in resisting a dichotomy between religious and scientific thinking is a value to post-secular society. (shrink)

The main purpose of this qualitative study is to visualize the philosophy program for children (p4c) in Iranian primary education (policy, strategies and practice). The secondary purpose is to examine the informational and practical experiences, perceptions and feelings of specialists and elementary teachers of the representation and possibility of implementing a philosophy program for children in primary education in Iran. The method of qualitative research is phenomenography. Data were collected over two weeks through one-on-one interviews with 8 experts and 13 (...) teachers involved in the FBQ program. Findings in three three-level descriptive categories; Policy-making, strategies, and implementation constitute the outcome space. Most of the interviewees considered these three levels necessary in the implementation of the FBQ program. As a result, this study suggests that phenomenography can be used as an evaluation tool to identify policies, strategies, and practices and to describe their structural aspects, which may serve as the executive framework of the FBQ program from marginal to thematic core and its sensitivity. Move that has never been thought of before. As a result, identifying the above challenges at three descriptive levels in finding solutions and solving obstacles and problems, will facilitate the implementation process and help achieve the goals of the FBQ program in primary education. (shrink)

It can hardly be denied that play is an important tool for the development and socialisation of children. In this article we argue that, through dramaturgical play in combination with pedagogical tools such as the Community of Inquiry (CoI), in the tradition of Philosophy for Children (P4C), students can creatively think, reflect and be more aware of the impact their gestures (Schmid 2000b) have on others. One of the most fundamental aspects of the embodied human life is human interaction that (...) is based on expressions, what Schmid calls gestures. Through self-reflection, one’s set of gestures can be developed into a deliberate ‘life-performance’; a conscious, selected and coherent work of art (Schmid, 2000b, p. 332). Drawing on Nietzsche’s idea of living artistically, we explore how Schmid’s philosophy of the art of living, P4C and the liberal arts, with a focus on drama education, can work together to develop (self-) reflective, reasonable citizens who are able to develop their own art of living while respecting and supporting the development of the good and beautiful life of others. (shrink)