Philosothon

A Philosothon is an annual competition wherein students explore philosophical and ethical issues. Philosothons are held in all Australian states, New Zealand, and the UK.[1][2][3]

At a Philosothon, school-aged students are assessed by university-based professional philosophers and score highly where they demonstrate rigour and clarity of thought. An essential component of a Philosothon is the pedagogical model for teaching Philosophy to young people called Community of inquiry. The event has grown alongside and within the Philosophy for Children movement. Annual Philosothons are held throughout Australia, New Zealand and the UK. The first Australasian Philosothon was held at Cranbrook School, Sydney in 2011[4][5] and the first UK Philosothon was held in 2012 at King's College, Taunton.

2007 Hale School Philosothon Winning school students with trophy

History

In 2007, Hale School in Perth, Western Australia initiated a project to promote higher-order thinking among secondary school students. The Head of Philosophy and Ethics Mr Matthew Wills, created the event to promote student engagement in the study of Philosophy. At the first Philosothon nine local high school teams, each including five students came together for an evening of philosophical investigation. The word 'Philosothon' was invented in the first few years of the event by Matthew Wills and Leanne Rucks.[6][7]

Recent history

Following the first Philosothon it was decided to promote the event more broadly to other schools around the country and later in the UK. Philosothons now take place annually in each Australian capital city and in regional locations around the country. They also take place around the UK and introductory presentations to explain the concept and invite participation are given to teachers at Academy Conferences multiple times each year.[8][9][10] Recently Primary school Philosothons have been conducted in various Art Galleries in some Australian states and in the UK.[11][12] Philosothons are established in regional cities throughout Australia and New Zealand and a similar growth is spearheaded by Academy Conferences in the UK where various regional hubs  are emerging, such as Stowe.[13][14][15]

In 2017 The Templeton Religion Trust awarded $281,656 AUD to the Philosothon project in order to "grow existing Philosothons and support the establishment of new ones, particularly in remote schools and at schools catering for students from low socio-economic backgrounds" in Australasia.[16] Similar funding was awarded to the Ian Ramsey Centre to expand the UK Philosothon initiative in 2019.[17]

As part of the recent expansion of Philosothons in the UK, introductory presentations to teachers have explained the concept at more than 15 Academy Conferences events, as well as ISRSA and NATRE conferences.[18] These presentations have been accompanied by associated outreach work, including the development of a website and more than 500 flash drives so far for distributing introductory and administrative material, generously funded by the Templeton Religion Trust.[19]

A Junior School Philosothon at the Art Gallery of Western Australia

With the arrival of the Corona Virus and new restrictions the 2020 Australasian Philosothon was held online with twenty one Australian and New Zealand schools participating. [20]

Rationale and process

The rationale for the Philosothon methodology is based on empirical evidence that teaching children reasoning skills early in life greatly improves other cognitive and academic skills and greatly assists learning in general.[21] Students are given the topic questions in advance and some stimulus reading materials.[22]

Examples of topic questions from recent Philosothons are these:

Students, teachers and parents gather on a particular evening each year for the event. The students participate in a series of Communities of Inquiry which are facilitated by teachers or Phd. philosophy students from the local universities. While participating in this process students are scored by Philosophy lecturers also from local universities. The scores are then collated, ranked and later in the evening awards are given to students at each age level and encouragement awards to the most promising male and female philosopher. Also a trophy is awarded to the winning school.[23]

Criticisms and responses

Some might argue that Philosophy cannot be undertaken in the context of a competition.[24] They believe that by ranking individuals the process of developing a Community of Philosophical Inquiry is fundamentally compromised. However, others have responded that many students forget they are involved in a competition and engage in the exact sort of investigation and collaboration we would hope to see in Philosophy. Others have suggested that the same process is undertaken in any academic institution, tertiary or secondary where students are ranked against criteria. The only difference is that one of the more important criteria in a COI is collaboration.[25]

Winners of the 2011 Australasian Philosothon Christ Church Grammar School

Australasian Philosothon

In July 2011 the Federation of Australasian Philosophy in Schools Associations (FAPSA) agreed to support the first National Philosothon at Cranbrook School. Each Australian state sent three teams (those schools that won in their local Philosothon) and so twelve schools in total arrived in Sydney to participate in the inaugural event.[26][27][28] [29] Each year the Australasian Philosothon is run in a different region in Australasia.[30] In 2019 the ninth Australasian Philosothon was held at Radford College in Canberra. In 2020 the Australasian Philosothon was hosted for the first time online by the Australasian Association of Philosophy (AAP)

United Kingdom

Philosothons have been run in the UK since 2013. Revd. Mark Smith & Julie Arliss from the Philosophy of Religion and Ethics Department at King's College, Taunton, UK, have spearheaded the Philosothon movement in the United Kingdom in collaboration with Dr Michael Lacewing from Heythrop College and Lizzy Lewis from Sapere.[31] Wells Cathedral College won the first event. More recently Philosothons have been developed throughout the UK, promoted at Academy Conferences events and spreading from the UK hub at King’s College, Taunton; with more than 375 attendees in the year 2019-2020 (more events were postponed due to COVID-19).[32][33] Primary School Philosothons have also been hosted by the Philosophy Foundation.[34] Other Philosothons have been held around the UK.[35]

Primary and Middle School Philosothons

In 2012 an inaugural Primary School Philosothon was held at the National Gallery of Victoria (NGV).[36][37] [38] In 2013 the first WA Primary school Philosothon was hosted by John XXIII College at the Art Gallery of WA. Since then Annual Primary School Philosothons have been conducted in Victoria, WA and the UK.[39]

List of Philosothons

National events

Australasian PhilosothonsFirstSecondThirdHost
2011Christ Church Grammar School[40] (WA)McKinnon Secondary College (VIC)Perth College (WA)Cranbrook School (NSW)
2012Hale School (WA)Guildford Grammar School (WA)Bishop Druitt College (NSW)AB Paterson College (QLD)
2013Raffles Girls' School (Singapore)Wesley College (WA)Ballarat Grammar School (VIC)Ballarat Grammar School (VIC)
2014North Sydney Girls High School (NSW)Hale School (WA)Ballarat Grammar School (VIC)Hale School (WA)
2015North Sydney Girls High School (NSW)Scotch College (WA)Hale School (WA)North Sydney Girls High School (NSW)[41]
2016Scotch College (WA)Hale School (WA)Anglican Church Grammar School (QLD)Anglican Church Grammar School (QLD)
2017North Sydney Girls High School (NSW)McKinnon Secondary College (VIC)Hale School (WA)St Andrews Cathedral School (NSW)
2018North Sydney Girls High School (NSW)Seymour College (SA)Scotch College (WA)St Peter's College (SA)
2019North Sydney Girls High School (NSW)St Andrew's Cathedral School (NSW)Narrabunda College & Telopea Park High School (ACT)Radford College (ACT)
2020North Sydney Girls High School (NSW)Narrabunda College & Telopea Park High School (ACT)St Andrew's Cathedral School (NSW)Held online

Australian Capital Territory

Australian Capital Territtory PhilosothonFirstFirst Div AFirst Div BHost
2019Narrabunda College & Telopea Park High SchoolCanberra Girls GrammarMerici CollegeRadford College

Queensland

Queensland PhilosothonsFirstSecondThirdHost
2010Anglican Church Grammar SchoolA.B.Paterson CollegeSt Laurence's CollegeA.B.Paterson College
2011Anglican Church Grammar SchoolBishop Druitt CollegePalm Beach Currumbin High SchoolA.B.Paterson College
2013 Div A (10-12)Anglican Church Grammar SchoolBrisbane State High School & Kelvin Grove State H.S.St Laurence's College
2013 Div B (7-9)Cavendish Rd State High SchoolBrisbane State High SchoolSt Laurence's College
2014 Div A (10-12)Anglican Church Grammar SchoolBrisbane State High SchoolSt Laurence's CollegeUniversity of Queensland
2014 Div B (7-9)Anglican Church Grammar SchoolCavendish Rd SHSSt Laurence's CollegeUniversity of Queensland
2015 Div A (10-12)Brisbane State High SchoolPalm Beach Currumbin State High SchoolAnglican Church Grammar School and Kelvin Grove State CollegeUniversity of Queensland
2015 Div B (7-9)Brisbane State High SchoolKenmore State High SchoolSt Laurence's CollegeUniversity of Queensland
2016 Div A (10-12)Palm Beach CurrumbinBrisbane Boy's CollegeMarist College AshgroveUniversity of Queensland
2016 Div B (7-9)ChurchieKenmore SHSMarist College AshgroveUniversity of Queensland
2017 Div A (10-12)Palm Beach CurrumbinAnglican Church Grammar School (Churchie)Kenmore SHSUniversity of Queensland
2017 Div B (7-9)Hillbrook Anglican SchoolCentenary SHSMarist College AshgroveUniversity of Queensland
2018 Div A (10-12)Anglican Church Grammar School (Churchie)Kelvin Grove State High SchoolPalm Beach CurrumbinUniversity of Queensland
2018 Div B (7-9)Cavendish Road State High SchoolPacific Lutheran CollegeStretton State CollegeUniversity of Queensland
2019 Div A (10-12)Anglican Church Grammar School (Churchie)Hillbrook Anglican SchoolPalm Beach CurrumbinUniversity of Queensland
2019 Div B (7-9)Marist College AshgroveCavendish Rd SHSAnglican Church Grammar School (Churchie)University of Queensland

New South Wales

NSW PhilosothonsFirstSecondThirdHost
2009Ascham SchoolCranbrook SchoolAscham
2010Sydney Grammar SchoolAschamAscham
2011Sydney Grammar SchoolSt Andrew's Cathedral SchoolAscham
2012Loreto KiribilliSydney Grammar SchoolSt Andrew's Cathedral School & AschamAscham
2013North Sydney Girls High SchoolSydney Grammar SchoolSt Andrew's Cathedral School & Sydney Boys High SchoolAscham
2014North Sydney Girls High SchoolSt Andrew's Cathedral SchoolMonte San't Angelo Mercy CollegeCranbrook School
2015S.C.E.G.G.S DarlinghurstSydney Boys High SchoolSydney Girls High SchoolCranbrook School
2016North Sydney Girls High SchoolSydney Boys High SchoolSt Andrews Cathedral SchoolSt Andrews Cathedral School
2017Sydney Girls High SchoolSCEGGS DarlinghurstMeridenSt Andrews Cathedral School
2018North Sydney Girls High SchoolMeridenSt Patricks Strathfield & St Andrews Cathedral SchoolSt Andrews Cathedral School
2019North Sydney Girls High SchoolSydney Girls High SchoolSt Andrews Cathedral SchoolNorth Sydney Girls High School
Northern NSW PhilosothonFirstFirst Div AFirst Div BHost
2012Bishop Druitt CollegeAlstonville High SchoolBishop Druitt College
2013Bishop Druitt CollegeJohn Paul CollegeLindisfarne Anglican SchoolBishop Druitt College
2014Bishop Druitt CollegeBellingen High SchoolThe Armidale SchoolBishop Druitt College
2018MacKillop College, Port MacquarieBishop Druitt CollegeLindisfarne Anglican Grammar SchoolBishop Druitt College
2019MacKillop College, Port MacquarieBishop Druitt CollegeLindisfarne Anglican Grammar SchoolBishop Druitt College
ArmidaleFirstSecondHost
2019Presbyterian Ladies’ CollegeThe Armidale SchoolThe Armidale School

South Australia

South Australian PhilosothonFirstFirst Div AFirst Div BHost
2017Seymour CollegeSt Peters Girls SchoolSt Peter's CollegePrince Alfred College
2018St Peters Girls SchoolSeymour CollegePrince Alfred CollegePrince Alfred College
2019St Ignatius CollegeSt Peters Girls SchoolSeymour CollegePrince Alfred College

Victoria

Victorian PhilosothonsFirstSecondThirdHost
2010St Leonards CollegeKing David SchoolMcKinnon Secondary CollegeBallarat Grammar
2011McKinnon Secondary CollegeKing David SchoolBallarat Grammar SchoolBallarat Grammar
2012Ballarat Grammar SchoolMcKinnon Secondary CollegeDistance Education Centre of VictoriaBallarat Grammar
2013Ballarat Grammar SchoolMethodist Ladies' College, MelbourneMill Park Secondary CollegeBallarat Grammar
2014Ballarat Grammar SchoolMcKinnon Secondary CollegeStar of the Sea College BrightonBallarat Grammar
2015Ballarat Grammar SchoolKing David SchoolMcKinnon Secondary CollegeBallarat Grammar
2016McKinnon Secondary CollegePresbyterian Ladies' CollegeScotch College, MelbourneBallarat Grammar
2017Sandringham CollegeBallarat Grammar SchoolUpwey High SchoolBallarat Grammar
2018Ballarat Grammar SchoolKing David SchoolMacRobertson High SchoolBallarat Grammar
2019Wesley CollegeMentone Grammar, MelbourneLoreto CollegeWesley College

Western Australia

WA PhilosothonsFirstSecondThirdHost
2007Hale SchoolSt Mary's Anglican Girls' SchoolHale School
2008Christ Church Grammar SchoolHale SchoolPerth CollegeHale School
2009Wesley CollegeCarmel SchoolPerth Modern SchoolHale School
2010Hale SchoolPerth CollegeChrist Church Grammar SchoolHale School
2011Hale SchoolGuildford Grammar SchoolBunbury Cathedral Grammar SchoolHale School
2012Carmel SchoolGuildford Grammar SchoolWesley CollegeHale School
2013Iona Presentation CollegePerth Modern SchoolMethodist Ladies' CollegeHale School
2014Scotch CollegeSt Hilda's AGSHale SchoolHale School
2015Christ Church Grammar School & Scotch CollegeHale School, MLC & PLCPerth College
2016Christ Church Grammar SchoolWilletton Senior High SchoolHale SchoolPerth College
2017Scotch CollegeWilleton Senior High SchoolChristchurch GrammarTrinity College
2018Scotch CollegePerth CollegeWesley CollegeTrinity College
2019Scotch CollegeChrist Church Grammar SchoolSt Mark's Anglican Community SchoolTrinity College
2020Willetton Senior High SchoolGuilford Grammar SchoolMethodist Ladies' CollegeUniversity of Western Australia

South West Western Australia

Southern WA PhilosothonsFirstSecondThirdHost
2014[42]Georgiana Molloy Anglican SchoolBunbury Cathedral Grammar SchoolBunbury Catholic CollegeBunbury Cathedral Grammar School
2015Margaret River Senior High SchoolMargaret River Senior High SchoolBunbury Cathedral Grammar School
2016Margaret River Senior High SchoolMargaret River Senior High SchoolBunbury Cathedral Grammar School
2017Bunbury Cathedral Grammar School GoldGeogiana Molloy Anglican SchoolBunbury Cathedral Grammar School Blue
2018Bunbury Catholic College Mercy CampusGeogiana Molloy Anglican School DiamondsGeogiana Molloy Anglican School Gold
2019[43]Bunbury Catholic College Mercy CampusBunbury Cathedral Grammar SchoolGeogiana Molloy Anglican SchoolGeorgiana Molloy Anglican School
2020 Our Lady of Mercy College Green Geogiana Molloy Anglican School Gold Bunbury Cathedral Grammar School Gold

New Zealand

New ZealandFirstSecondHost
2018Hamilton Boys' High SchoolWaikato Diocesan SchoolWaikato Diocesan School
2019Hamilton Boys' High SchoolWaikato Diocesan SchoolWaikato Diocesan School

United Kingdom

United Kingdom Philosothons First Second Third Host
2014 Wells Cathedral School Bristol Grammar School Monkton Combe School King's College, Taunton
2015 Wells Cathedral School Wellington School Exeter School King's College, Taunton[44]
2016 Wellington School King's College, Taunton Bristol Grammar School King's College, Taunton
2017 Bristol Grammar School Wellington School Exeter School King's College, Taunton[45]
2018 Bristol Grammar School Torquay Girls' Grammar School Taunton School King's College, Taunton
2018 Winchester College Stowe School
2019 Exeter College Bristol Grammar School Torquay Girl's Grammar School King's College, Taunton
2019 Winchester College Latymer Upper School Bristol Grammar School Stowe School

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