Institute for the Advancement of Philosophy for Children
The Institute for the Advancement of Philosophy for Children (IAPC) was founded in 1974 at Montclair State University and is active in the field of philosophy with children and adolescents. The IAPC has three main tasks: the creation of educational programs, their dissemination and research.
Educational programs
- Publishing curriculum and teacher preparation, materials in the field of philosophy with children , preparing classroom dialogues, promoting multi-dimensional thinking
- Translation, cultural adaptation and publication of these materials by IAPC centers
- Promotion of forums for professional development in these areas
- Partnerships with schools and other institutions to deliver courses and comprehensive programs in these areas for students of all ages
- Cooperations with universities that offer courses and study programs in the field of philosophy with children
- Promotion of regional and international philosophy for children projects
Dissemination and professional training
- Promote the work of the IAPC and its centers through demonstrations in schools and other locations to produce various media such as websites, brochures, newsletters, conference displays, television and radio appearances, and other media
- Providing memberships, partnerships, and other forms of affiliation with academic, professional, government, and non-governmental organizations whose work is closely related to the work of the IAPC (e.g., American Philosophical Association , Philosophy of Education Society (USA / United Kingdom), American Educational Research Association , UNESCO , International Federation of Philosophical Societies (FISP), Association for Practical and Professional Ethics , Squire Foundation , State and Federal Ministries of Education, New Jersey Association for Gifted Children , New Jersey Center for Character Education , New Jersey Network for Educational Renewal and national, regional, and international organizations working in philosophy with children).
research
- The aim is to promote philosophy with children in teaching as well as in educational philosophy in order to support the use of philosophy for the preservation of educational goals such as critical, social democratic and moral aesthetic thinking.
- Invite visiting scholars to study and research at the IAPC.
- Exploring alternative approaches to philosophy for children.
- Coordination of this work among IAPC centers, universities with philosophy for children courses, as well as regional and international organizations in the field of philosophy for children.
- Dissemination of IAPC funded research in academic and professional venues in philosophy and education
In addition to working directly with students, IAPC members work with a variety of people, including professional and semi-professional educators, policy makers, and faculty and students in education, philosophy and related disciplines.