Philosophy Students to Work With Model Lab First-Graders

Students in a Beginning Ethics class at Eastern Kentucky University will work with first-graders at Model Laboratory School next semester, helping them to see and resolve moral issues.

The course (PHI 130S) is designed to help the Model Lab classes achieve Goals 3 and 4 of the Kentucky Core Academic Standards, aimed at helping students “develop their abilities to become self-sufficient individuals” and “become responsible members of a family, work group or community.”

Dr. Laura Newhart, instructor of the course and chair of the Department of Philosophy and Religion at the University, said the EKU students will read stories to the students that illustrate moral issues, facilitate the resolution of the moral issues in the stories, and help the first-graders write their own stories illustrating and resolving similar issues.

“If this pilot version of PHI 130S is successful, the hope is to expand its service base to other elementary schools in EKU’s service region,” Newhart said.

According to Newhart, the approach is based on Elliot D. Cohen’s logic-based framework. Cohen is the author of “What Would Aristotle Do? Self-Control through the Power of Reason” and “The New Rational Therapy: Thinking Your Way to Serenity, Success and Profound Happiness.”

PHI 130S is part of “a growing movement called Philosophy for Children,” Newhart added.

The class will meet on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays from 9:05 to 9:55 a.m. The service component of the course will take place during the regularly scheduled class period.
 

Published on January 30, 2014