SearchAbout Us
What is P4C?
P4C stands for Philosophy for Children. During the fall 2006 semester, Creighton University philosophy professor Dr. Jinmei Yuan met with a couple of students and a visiting professor from the University of Hawaii in Manoa. The plan: to bring P4C to the Midwest. P4C is an international program having extensive experience in not only the United States, but also various other countries throughout the world, such as China, Japan, and New Zealand just to name a few.
A mix of philosophy and education, P4C engages children (from kindergarten through high school) in what they want to talk about, what they wonder about. Often times, a child's education is one in which they go to school, learn the information, and study for tests. P4C, however, teaches these children how to "scratch beneath the surface," how to not only think creatively and logically (giving reasons, examples, counter-examples, etc.), but also how to create what we call an "intellectually-safe" environment, an atmosphere in which everyone respects each other's ideas and where everyone can feel comfortable to express their thoughts and ideas in a creative and engaging way. The program is dynamic and each session is unique, always changing and adapting to the children's comments, questions, and ideas.
P4C enables the children to take a step back from the typical "student" role and keep their sense of wonder alive. All of philosophy begins in wonder, and P4C is dedicated to embodying this idea. P4C gets kids thinking about issues, practical or theoretical, which otherwise they might not have had the opportunity to discuss in or outside of school. Bringing these issues out of the children, discussing them in a safe, fun and logical way, really allows the children to enrich and inspire within themselves that sense of wonder about the world which cultivates strong minds as well as happy hearts.
Schools Involved
Spring 2007: St. Joan of Arc (1st, 2nd, 5th grades)
Fall 2007: St. Joan of Arc (1st, 2nd, 3rd, 6th grades); Creighton Prep High School (senior philosophy class)