Posted March 2005 Philosophy in the classroom program wins award for Buranda State School Education Views, Edition 5, 2005
		"Walls can be made from brick, stone, metal or other building materials. They can also be made from emotions such as fear or hatred." (Year 4 student) Principal Lynne Hinton accepts the awardA program that encourages children to think about and discuss the big issues of life, and gives them opportunities to do so, has led to thoughts like these from primary students – and a prestigious educational award for Buranda State School. The award, a National Award for Quality Schooling 2005 for Outstanding National Improvement by a School, for Philosophy in the Classroom, was presented by Nelson on 17 February at Parliament House, Canberra. Buranda Principal Lynne Hinton accepted the award. "Philosophy is concerned with the process of thinking, rather than finding the right answer," Lynne says. "Students learn to explore issues together, to question, and to disagree respectfully."

When Lynne became Principal at Buranda, an inner-city Brisbane school, she says "enrolments were falling and student outcomes were poor". Lynne felt that introducing Philosophy in Schools, which she had encountered during her postgraduate studies, might help to turn the school climate around.

The results have been dramatic. Eight years on, Lynne reports, "Buranda students achieve exceptional academic and social outcomes. They are excellent problem solvers, and there is little or no bullying at the school. Enrolments have quadrupled."

The program's success has attracted a great deal of interest. There have been many requests for visits to the school from Australian and international educators, as well as requests for Buranda staff to speak at conferences and provide training.

To assist with this, an online training course, Learning to Think: Philosophy in the Classroom has been developed and is available through The Learning Place. Through a facilitated process, the course explains how to teach philosophy. "Currently, the course is being used by people from five different countries, most states in Australia, and by remote indigenous communities," Lynne says.

Lynne says she loves the way philosophy helps children relate to and trust each other. "I love the way they can walk a mile in one another's shoes."

More thoughts from students:

"If you believe in something, does that make it real?” (Year 5)

"If you seek vengeance, do you lose your freedom and become a slave?” (Year 7)

"Philosophy is like water spilling through your hands. And as the water goes through the questions get answered. The other bits left in your hands are the big questions.” (Year 4)