The Kumu Hina Film and p4cHI at Kailua High School

KHS p4cHI teacher Clint Medeiros, Kumu Hina filmmaker Dean Hamer, and Uehiro Academy Director of Curriculum and Research Dr. Amber Makaiau

In the month of August, Kailua High School (KHS) p4cHI Teacher Clint Medeiros and Dr. Amber Makaiau had the opportunity to meet with filmmakers Dean Hamer and Joe Wilson to celebrate the launch of the Kumu Hina: A Place in the Middle film at KHS. Kumu Hina is a powerful film about the struggle to maintain Pacific Islander culture and values within the Westernized society of modern day Hawai’i. It is told through the lens of an extraordinary Native Hawaiian who is both a proud and confident māhū, or transgender woman, and an honored and respected kumu, or teacher, cultural practitioner, and community leader. Ninth grade ethnic studies students at KHS viewed the film and engaged in a p4cHI style plain vanilla inquiry about the film. Among their questions, the students were interested in inquiring about: What are the reasons that people in the world are so judgmental about sexual orientation? Can I infer that the people in the video are supportive because they were taught to be supportive? What are the reasons people treat others with respect in some areas of the world and others don’t? What are the reasons that some people aren’t proud of who they are?

Ninth grade KHS ethnic studies students Kumu Hina Plain Vanilla inquiry questions:

The Possibility of Learning About Society as a Relation in the Early Elementary Grades: An Analysis of “Getting Started in Philosophy”

Japanese Researchers Get An Introduction to p4cHI

In the month of July, Dr. Amber Strong Makaiau traveled to Japan to be a Key Note Speaker at two International Symposiums on the Importance of Education for Virtue, Character, Moral, and Social Responsibility. Held at Hiroshima University (Hiroshima, Japan) and the Tokyo Institute of Technology Tamachi Campus (Tokyo, Japan), the symposiums were mostly attended by Japanese researchers, professors, graduate students and members of the National Institute for Educational Policy Research (NIER).

In addition to speaking at the symposiums, Dr. Makaiau also had the opportunity to discuss the future of moral education in Japan with members of the Japanese Ministry of Education. Click on the following links to view:

(a) Symposium Programs

(b) Dr. Makaiau’s PPT Presentation

(c) Video of Dr. Makaiau’s presentation in English and Japanese

(d) Pictures from her visit

P4C @ NNSTOY & ECET2

Dr. Miller and Tim Dove, the 2012 Ohio State Teacher of the Year, presented Student Voice! Empowering Kids Through the Integration of philosophy at the National Network of State Teachers of the Year’s annual conference (NNSTOY) in Salt Lake City, UT. Lastly, Miller participated in the Gate’s Foundation’s Elevating and Celebrating Effective Teachers and Teaching conference (ECET2) in Seattle, WA. His comments and ideas were well received and sparked meaningful dialogue among many in attendance.

p4cHI @ ICPIC & PLATO

Dr. Chad Miller had a busy summer sharing p4c Hawai‘i with colleagues from all over the world. At The International Council for Philosophical Inquiry with Children (ICPIC) biennial conference in Vancouver, BC, Dr. Miller gave two presentations titled, Philosophy, a Promise Unfulfilled: Reinvigorating philosophy in Our Schools and What is a Teacher-Philosopher? An Inquiry to Understand Our Professional Identity. 

A few days later he, along with veteran p4cHI teacher, Stefanie Sweeney, delivered “We are philosophers!” The Kailua High Complex’s k-12 Philosophical Schooling Experience at the Philosophy Learning and Teaching Organization’s conference (PLATO) in Seattle, WA.

Hirono-Backed Provisions For Hawaii Students Included In Senate’s Historic Comprehensive Education Bill

Mobilizing the Communty for Education Reform with Cheri Nakamura

p4cHI at CCSSO

In the month of June, Dr. Amber Strong Makaiau was invited to lead a p4cHI professional development workshop at the Council of Chief State School Officers (CCSSO) Social Studies Assessment, Curriculum, and Instruction held in San Diego, California. The title of the workshop was Cultivating and Nurturing Collaborative Civic Spaces: The philosophy for children Hawai’i Approach to Deliberative Pedagogy. The workshop was well received by the state social studies specialists and university professors who attended the meeting. They especially liked the community ball, which they used to facilitate dialogue, deliberation, and inquiry throughout their time together. To see Dr. Makaiau’s PowerPoint presentation, click here.

p4cHI and Teaching Tolerance

In the month of July, Dr. Amber Strong Makaiau had the opportunity to participate in Teaching Tolerance’s (TT) annual advisory board meeting, which took place at TT’s Montgomery, Alabama office over the course of two days. As a part of her collaboration with passionate anti-bias educators and the amazing staff at TT, Dr. Makaiau got to share about the p4cHI Plain Vanilla deliberative inquiry strategy. Click on these links to access her Plain Vanilla Each One Teach One Lesson, pictures from the meeting, the two-day agenda, and the event’s storify page.

WE>I Day at Waimanalo

On May 29, Waimanalo Elementary and Intermediate School (WEIS) held its fourth WE>IDay. Like previous times, Kailua High School students were able to help facilitate a 65-minute p4c session with groups of 5th-8th graders. It was another big success, for both the high school and WEIS students.  The KHS students proved to be highly skilled p4c facilitators and the 5th graders and middle school students impressed with their questions and rigor in the inquiries.

Here are is a list of some very thought-provoking questions they and other Uehiro Academy faculty members contributed:

Can I assume that my actions can affect more than myself?

Do we think technology influences the way we think?

Who is more to blame for the behavior; the two boys who behaved as bullies, or society as a whole?

Could the student prevent this from happening?

Can bullying have some benefits?

What are the reasons why a person has to fail in order to succeed?

Can social media-a thing that consumes our daily lives-affect our future?

Are there different levels of difficulties for obstacles we face in life?

Why do people bully if they know there are negative consequences to it?

Why do people bully? What are the reasons people need drastic consequences before change is made?

Why is society getting worse?

What are the effects of punishment?

What do bullies think of themselves?

Are there ever good reasons for getting into a physical fight?

Why do people bully? Why do many receive consequences for the actions of a few?