Innovation and Creativity Award

Proudly sponsored by the Queensland Government

Learning to Think: Philosophy at Buranda State School
Buranda State School, Department of Education, Training and the Arts

Buranda State School is tackling the problem of poor academic results through the teaching of philosophy.  Team members include (front row, left to right) Rosie Scholl, Nita Chotai, Kath Harrison, Liz Fynes-Clinton, Desley Alexion, (second row, left to right) Deidre O'Leary, Andrew Vidler, Lynne Hinton, Simon Vaseo, Julie Mitchell, Mary Ware, and Glenys Van Kempen.

Eleven years ago, Buranda State School was a small, declining inner city school. The appointment of a new principal led to a shared vision of teaching philosophy to address the problem of poor academic results.

Students would learn to think clearly and well and have confidence in their ability to do so. All students in the school would be included.

During philosophy lessons, students participate in literature-based discussions. By reflecting on prevailing beliefs, exploring possible alternatives and giving and accepting reasons, children learn to be reflective, sensitive to meaning, divergent and reasonable. By listening to each other, building on each other's ideas and exploring disagreement respectfully, children learn to be fair and open-minded, intellectually cooperative and mutually respectful.

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Significant and measurable improvements, now above the state averages, have occurred in the learning outcomes of the students since philosophy teaching began.

Unexpected outcomes also occurred. The social behaviour of the students improved to the extent that there is now little or no bullying at the school. Enrolments quadrupled.

The relevance and success of teaching philosophy at Buranda is recognised and acknowledged nationally and internationally.

Requests for information and support have been met by the development and provision of extensive professional development activities, including an online course to allow teachers in remote areas and internationally to access training.

Principal Lynne Hinton and teachers regularly travel interstate and overseas to provide training and to present workshops and conference papers based on the work being done at the school.

The school was one of only seven Australian schools visited by the Federal Minister's Department of Education, Science and Training Review Committee investigating innovative schooling in Australia as part of the Review of Teaching and Teacher Education.

A high level of interest is being shown by the academic community, with the school being included in several publications.

www.education.qld.gov.au

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