Topics Education

Question I am a a high school teacher working for the Los Angeles Unified School District. I have been given approval to begin teaching a Philosophy survey course for the next school year. Although I am well read and schooled in Philosophy (I think?), I am unaware of possible textbooks for the study of Philosophy. I am looking for something that might be high school student friendly. Thus the Adorno Reader might be out of sorts for my pubescent high school students. In addition, I am fielding advice on the best approach to teaching Philosophy to high schoolers. I am interested in possible methods, assignments and projects. Any advice would be welcomed. Thank you, Ramon

Accepted:
March 4, 2006

Comments

There are a lot of introductory textbooks, most of them collections of material on various themes: mind-body, skepticism, etc. Bratman and Perry's Introduction to Philosophy was what was used at MIT when I was a graduate student, and it seems popular, from what I can tell. But I don't know whether it would be appropriate to your needs.

The American Philosophical Association has subparts that are concerned specifically with philosophy at the pre-college level. I'd try writing to them for some advice and some resources.

I would recommend Theodore Schick's and Lewis Vaugn's Doing Philosophy: An Introduction through Thought Experiments (New York: McGraw Hill, 2005--3rd edn.) Its use of thought experiments makes the theories more readily accessible than most anthologies.

By the way, I have actually worked with another teach in LAUSD (at Palisaides High and at Hollywood High) on some philosophical topics. If you think it would help to have a guest come to your classes for some discussion, I would be glad to do so (for no pay), as I am in the Los Angeles area often for various reasons. Feel free to contact me directly if your are interested: ndsmith@lclark.edu.

Have you looked at Thomas Nagel's What Does It All Mean? (Oxford)?

You might also check out the resources here:

http://www.apa.udel.edu/apa/governance/committees/teaching/orc/index.html

Don't know how pop you want to go, but you might consult some books here:

http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/tg/guides/guide-display/-/E6HCUZQ3JZNO/102-8596721-2293711

I would add to the helpful suggestions that there is nothing like working with the students on an actual extended text, like one of the shorter Plato dialogues, perhaps, or some of Russell's essays, to bring them into direct contact with a philosopher. I have often found that this is effective in instilling enthusiasm for the discipline as compared with exclusive reliance on a reader or survey.