THE ROLE OF THE TEACHER IN THE COMMUNITY OF INQUIRY
THE ROLE OF THE TEACHER IN THE COMMUNITY OF INQUIRY

Summary/Abstract: Philosophy can be brought into the realm of children through Philosophy for Children. This type of (teaching) philosophy allows children to develop the philosophical dimension in their lives. But behind teaching philosophy for children always should be teachers who are able to solve and to think openly, multidimensional and flexible in many ways the solutions to problems. The teacher must deploy a type of thinking aiming to inspire the children. The role of the teacher in a community of inquiry is to facilitate child’s understanding. The content of class discussions refers, generally, to philosophical concepts, but the activities are not undertaken in a formal manner. Considering that some philosophical concepts are controversial or difficult to be defined clearly, the teacher does not have to provide the final answer to his questions, sometime not even after debate. Children are gradually able to form their own conception of freedom, justice, beauty, time, space, what a person is, whether the universe has a beginning or not, if exist life after death, abortion; all of these through discussions between colleagues, under the supervision and guided by teacher's questions, or the exercises in the teacher's manual. A modern teacher is the one adapted to the ever changing society and those who teach philosophy for children must spark curiosity in his students and not just expose his own knowledge. Society needs this modern professor to instill their children with critical thinking and with the capacity to solve important issues in life. Perhaps the Children's Philosophy will not change the world, but it has the potential to change the individual worlds of each child if that child has a well-trained and dedicated professor.

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