http://gopetition.com/signatures/make-reasoning-skills-compulsory-in-schools.html Online petition signatures en-us Thu, 23 Apr 2026 07:26 UTC GoPetition RSS Feed Generator Copyright 2026 GoPetition https://gopetition.com/signature/locate/21748608?utm_medium=rss I am a former secondary school modern language teacher (French and German) who was moved by the crisis of the East-West nuclear stand-off in the early 80s to leave teaching and transfer my focus and energies into the field of nuclear disarmament and peace-building; not campaigning against nuclear weapons and war which we saw as symptoms of an underlying disease, but looking at the nature of the disease and ways to cure it. The approach was more of gradual, holistic, 'bottom up' rather than top-down, systemic transformation of society and politics, working with Research and Dialogue as out tools on developing good inter- and intra-personal and international relations, in which a culture of peace can develop and flourish, gradually replacing the divided and dividing culture of militarism and war.
I have become convinced that the absence of philosophical and psychological education in schools, which would train people to think and be aware of what it is to be human and part of the wider world, to question and gain self-knowledge, is the last 'intractable obstacle' and final frontier we have to cross to understanding, from which compassion, and peace, can begin to flow.

]]> Tue, 31 Oct 2017 11:36:16 UTC 21748608 https://gopetition.com/signature/locate/20955016?utm_medium=rss Absolutely essential to promote philosophy . It is the most effective mind work out and when reading other subjects your brain is so well tuned . An absolute must not to mention the pleasure in researching how great minds grapple with meanings

]]> Wed, 21 Dec 2016 06:23:42 UTC 20955016 https://gopetition.com/signature/locate/20754794?utm_medium=rss Thu, 6 Oct 2016 03:57:30 UTC 20754794 https://gopetition.com/signature/locate/20035100?utm_medium=rss Mon, 6 Jun 2016 05:17:15 UTC 20035100 https://gopetition.com/signature/locate/20008844?utm_medium=rss Independent thought is essential to self knowledge and the betterment of society. These measures would represent a step forward in education.

]]> Mon, 23 May 2016 07:38:48 UTC 20008844 https://gopetition.com/signature/locate/20005898?utm_medium=rss Sat, 21 May 2016 04:28:19 UTC 20005898 https://gopetition.com/signature/locate/19883784?utm_medium=rss Fri, 8 Apr 2016 02:33:51 UTC 19883784 https://gopetition.com/signature/locate/19754141?utm_medium=rss Sun, 21 Feb 2016 10:18:22 UTC 19754141 https://gopetition.com/signature/locate/19750273?utm_medium=rss Philosophy is not just another subject, it is the core of our society, why we live the way we do, moral values and there worth. We should not just expect children to accept things the way they are, we should teach them why they are. Encouraging them to question and think logically.
Surely these are key skills for life.

]]> Fri, 19 Feb 2016 03:34:12 UTC 19750273 https://gopetition.com/signature/locate/19407202?utm_medium=rss Absolutely. If children are told what to think in schools, how will they ever learn to create questions for themselves? When will they have a chance to argue and challenge others? Surely these skills are more valuable to children and adults alike - creativity cannot exist without them.

]]> Thu, 22 Oct 2015 04:32:15 UTC 19407202 https://gopetition.com/signature/locate/19386840?utm_medium=rss Tue, 13 Oct 2015 10:19:39 UTC 19386840 https://gopetition.com/signature/locate/19365458?utm_medium=rss I have to deal as a home-tutor on a regular basis with the inability to make connections between different subjects dealing with the same problem from different viewpoints.
This hinders the understanding of situations greatly.
The changes of/in syllabuses every other year is an other factor to dumb down understanding. This goes hand-in-hand with the praxis of moving the boder-lines for the grades in all subjects as much as up to 10 points between examinations, when they should be fixed on the same level, to enable a real comparison of achievements.
It seems, that all parties are very happy with a population, which can not check their statements for action. Neither of them advocated un-moveable border-lines for grades for the last 25 years.

]]> Sun, 4 Oct 2015 06:25:50 UTC 19365458 https://gopetition.com/signature/locate/19308363?utm_medium=rss Fri, 18 Sep 2015 08:50:59 UTC 19308363 https://gopetition.com/signature/locate/19250415?utm_medium=rss Wed, 2 Sep 2015 04:07:36 UTC 19250415 https://gopetition.com/signature/locate/18881070?utm_medium=rss Thu, 14 May 2015 10:31:38 UTC 18881070 https://gopetition.com/signature/locate/18804734?utm_medium=rss Looked up Angie Hobbs because she is my dauughter's ethics lecturer and Emily told me she is wonderful - her website led me to this link.
Teach a child to read, write and do basic arithmetic really well then let them think about it and find out things for themselves. Their fascination for knowledge will never leave them

]]> Fri, 24 Apr 2015 02:47:25 UTC 18804734 https://gopetition.com/signature/locate/18788198?utm_medium=rss In my retirement years I now believe the most valuable gift to give to children is the ability to think for themselves. In a world torn by competing ideas & open conflict it has become more vital than ever.

]]> Tue, 21 Apr 2015 02:05:59 UTC 18788198 https://gopetition.com/signature/locate/18639009?utm_medium=rss Tue, 10 Mar 2015 04:55:09 UTC 18639009 https://gopetition.com/signature/locate/18590354?utm_medium=rss Tue, 24 Feb 2015 03:59:35 UTC 18590354 https://gopetition.com/signature/locate/18539777?utm_medium=rss Fri, 13 Feb 2015 02:32:53 UTC 18539777 https://gopetition.com/signature/locate/18538282?utm_medium=rss Thu, 12 Feb 2015 03:59:30 UTC 18538282 https://gopetition.com/signature/locate/18527298?utm_medium=rss Tue, 10 Feb 2015 04:07:41 UTC 18527298 https://gopetition.com/signature/locate/18521129?utm_medium=rss I am astounded that in this century there is still no statutory requirement for including these skills at all levels throughout the United Kingdom education establishments. Our young people deserve to be encouraged to develop as we'll rounded individuals and this inclusion would go far to improve standards in all aspects of academia.

]]> Mon, 9 Feb 2015 07:12:34 UTC 18521129 https://gopetition.com/signature/locate/18518850?utm_medium=rss Sun, 8 Feb 2015 03:13:43 UTC 18518850 https://gopetition.com/signature/locate/18516090?utm_medium=rss Sun, 8 Feb 2015 04:16:20 UTC 18516090 https://gopetition.com/signature/locate/18515018?utm_medium=rss The International Baccalaureate already has a theory of knowledge course in all of ite programmes. If we equip children with the ability to problem solve then they can go beyond the old redundant knowledge often taught in schools. They can then deal with and be able to, solve the problems of tomorrow and make this world a better place. Being able to think for yourself is a fundamental tenet to learning and education. Why, then, is it not an integral part of our school system? Is it better to keep kids down and ignorant?

]]> Sat, 7 Feb 2015 06:58:49 UTC 18515018 https://gopetition.com/signature/locate/18513176?utm_medium=rss Philosophy is the art of life. Philosophy will bind us together and allow us to see the short coming of this world that controls us now. It will allow us to live a good life and to be an example to others without the need for a religion which can control people and cause war. Philosophy will make you wise, love life, and be more calm and understanding.

]]> Sat, 7 Feb 2015 11:17:00 UTC 18513176 https://gopetition.com/signature/locate/18509612?utm_medium=rss Fri, 6 Feb 2015 04:28:57 UTC 18509612 https://gopetition.com/signature/locate/18509178?utm_medium=rss Fri, 6 Feb 2015 02:58:56 UTC 18509178 https://gopetition.com/signature/locate/18509046?utm_medium=rss Fri, 6 Feb 2015 02:27:00 UTC 18509046 https://gopetition.com/signature/locate/18508825?utm_medium=rss Fri, 6 Feb 2015 01:26:00 UTC 18508825 https://gopetition.com/signature/locate/18508591?utm_medium=rss Children who have an education in philosophy will be better able to think for themselves and be critical and reflective. They would be more able to define and choose the purposes of education, rather than having them decided by others.

]]> Fri, 6 Feb 2015 12:21:40 UTC 18508591 https://gopetition.com/signature/locate/18508154?utm_medium=rss I believe that teaching basic philosophy, and a process of structured thought and reasoning, at an early age will improve society and increase our ability to deal with the changes and challenges that lie ahead.

]]> Fri, 6 Feb 2015 09:42:49 UTC 18508154 https://gopetition.com/signature/locate/18507832?utm_medium=rss Fri, 6 Feb 2015 07:39:18 UTC 18507832 https://gopetition.com/signature/locate/18507574?utm_medium=rss Fri, 6 Feb 2015 05:59:29 UTC 18507574 https://gopetition.com/signature/locate/18507468?utm_medium=rss To be able to discuss, debate and converse is so enriching personally, and so useful in life.

]]> Fri, 6 Feb 2015 05:18:49 UTC 18507468 https://gopetition.com/signature/locate/18507362?utm_medium=rss Development of sound thinking and reasoning skills is a cradle to grave requirement for every individual to learn to behave rationally and with consideration for others, The earlier in life this starts the better, philosophy should be a keystone of the school curriculum at all levels and we need philosophy graduates to deliver the subject to pupils and trainee teachers.

]]> Fri, 6 Feb 2015 04:40:11 UTC 18507362 https://gopetition.com/signature/locate/18507326?utm_medium=rss After listening to Angie Hobbs this morning I am convinced that introducing philosophy into primary schools would be vital towards engaging children and helping them make the right decisions in life rather than following leaders and being indoctrinated into a life that causes them to hate and commit actions against our fellow man. My life I feel would have been enriched by this being introduced into my primary school and I am convinced it would have helped me debate issues more and listen more to different points of view throughout my life.

]]> Fri, 6 Feb 2015 04:28:03 UTC 18507326 https://gopetition.com/signature/locate/18507307?utm_medium=rss Fri, 6 Feb 2015 04:21:45 UTC 18507307 https://gopetition.com/signature/locate/18507293?utm_medium=rss As an infant teacher & SAPERE qualified level 1 P4C facilitator I have seen first hand how children as young as 5 can engage in discussions in which they can agree or disagree respectfully and develop high quality questioning This approach fits well with a broad curriculum but needs successive classes/ schools to carry it on. It Is in my mind a valuable and even necessary contribution to the education of ALL young people. The earlier children start to develop the related key skills the better.

]]> Fri, 6 Feb 2015 04:16:59 UTC 18507293 https://gopetition.com/signature/locate/18507268?utm_medium=rss On watching question time on the 5th of February 2015 I was alarmed at the lack of reasoning at various times from the panel. It is a shame that a programme with such influence over an electorate does not have as its overriding principle, the drive for the truth and an exposure of rhetoric. On the panel Christina Odone, to rapturous applause, identified from her experiences that teachers who have not been through official teacher training are usually more inspirational and provided her with an overall better educational experience. To the uninformed, as was clear from some of the reactions in the audience, the impression left is that somehow it is a fact that there is either a systemic failing in teacher training or that some not having the burden of teacher training provides for better teachers. Take 2,000 teachers, half officially trained and half not, and you will see within both groups the bell curve of ability and effectiveness. Some effective teachers, others not so. Inspiration, life experiences and intelligence is not monopolised by untrained teachers. Why should we leave the audience with an impression contrary to all rationality! It happens all too often. Time for change.

]]> Fri, 6 Feb 2015 04:09:48 UTC 18507268 https://gopetition.com/signature/locate/18507247?utm_medium=rss Fri, 6 Feb 2015 04:00:48 UTC 18507247 https://gopetition.com/signature/locate/18507230?utm_medium=rss As much as learning facts, thinking skills are so important in order for children to make wise decisions, best for them and best for society. I have worked with young offenders for most of my career and for the most part, these young people report that they enjoy their primary school education, however, much goes wrong with their lives because of the negative and often destructive influence of family and community. Therefore, better developed thinking skills would equip children to make sense of a complex world. They may not feel so bad about themselves and therefore not hurt others, or indeed themselves. Young offenders attendance in education commonly falls away from 11 onwards so primary school offers a great opportunity for this particular vulnerable group.

]]> Fri, 6 Feb 2015 03:49:40 UTC 18507230 https://gopetition.com/signature/locate/18507229?utm_medium=rss Fri, 6 Feb 2015 03:49:34 UTC 18507229 https://gopetition.com/signature/locate/18507220?utm_medium=rss Fri, 6 Feb 2015 03:45:47 UTC 18507220 https://gopetition.com/signature/locate/18507215?utm_medium=rss Fri, 6 Feb 2015 03:42:52 UTC 18507215 https://gopetition.com/signature/locate/18507213?utm_medium=rss Fri, 6 Feb 2015 03:42:01 UTC 18507213 https://gopetition.com/signature/locate/18507207?utm_medium=rss Fri, 6 Feb 2015 03:40:20 UTC 18507207 https://gopetition.com/signature/locate/18507201?utm_medium=rss Early exposure to philosophy allows children to develop rational thought and provides the tools to assess the moral and ethical implications of what they hear, see and learn, inside and outside of the classroom. It facilitates understanding and tolerance and that must be a good thing

]]> Fri, 6 Feb 2015 03:38:28 UTC 18507201 https://gopetition.com/signature/locate/18507196?utm_medium=rss Fri, 6 Feb 2015 03:35:44 UTC 18507196 https://gopetition.com/signature/locate/18507171?utm_medium=rss Fri, 6 Feb 2015 03:29:17 UTC 18507171 https://gopetition.com/signature/locate/18507167?utm_medium=rss Fri, 6 Feb 2015 03:27:40 UTC 18507167 https://gopetition.com/signature/locate/18507131?utm_medium=rss Fri, 6 Feb 2015 03:14:05 UTC 18507131 https://gopetition.com/signature/locate/18503621?utm_medium=rss Thu, 5 Feb 2015 07:59:58 UTC 18503621 https://gopetition.com/signature/locate/18502312?utm_medium=rss Thu, 5 Feb 2015 12:27:55 UTC 18502312 https://gopetition.com/signature/locate/18495922?utm_medium=rss The development of moral and ethical reasoning is vital for our children's future.

]]> Tue, 3 Feb 2015 10:47:01 UTC 18495922 https://gopetition.com/signature/locate/18495413?utm_medium=rss Philosophy opens the mind to ways of seeing, thinking and critically analysing the world around us. It should be built in to a range of subjects and also be available as a stand alone. I want students that can think and argue, not target driven box tickers.

]]> Tue, 3 Feb 2015 07:49:20 UTC 18495413 https://gopetition.com/signature/locate/18489206?utm_medium=rss Sun, 1 Feb 2015 01:53:23 UTC 18489206 https://gopetition.com/signature/locate/18489121?utm_medium=rss Sun, 1 Feb 2015 01:13:28 UTC 18489121 https://gopetition.com/signature/locate/18489014?utm_medium=rss As a practising Buddhist, I feel that teaching philosophy within schools will be of great benefit
and enhance the life & skills of those who are privileged, to have access to this very profound subject in ways that one may not see or understand immediately. I look forward to hearing that this has come about.
c.r

]]> Sun, 1 Feb 2015 12:28:36 UTC 18489014 https://gopetition.com/signature/locate/18488320?utm_medium=rss The study of philosophy provides such an important grounding in intellectual development - it both perplexes and troubles me that more, if any time is not given to this most enlightening of subjects. Come on politicians, instead of constantly interfering with educational processes and invariably destroying all that is worthwhile, do something positive for a change. Give our children the full resources they need to succeed...

]]> Sun, 1 Feb 2015 06:23:23 UTC 18488320 https://gopetition.com/signature/locate/18488278?utm_medium=rss Sun, 1 Feb 2015 05:50:19 UTC 18488278 https://gopetition.com/signature/locate/18488269?utm_medium=rss Sun, 1 Feb 2015 05:42:50 UTC 18488269 https://gopetition.com/signature/locate/18488260?utm_medium=rss Sun, 1 Feb 2015 05:35:53 UTC 18488260 https://gopetition.com/signature/locate/18488258?utm_medium=rss Sun, 1 Feb 2015 05:35:37 UTC 18488258 https://gopetition.com/signature/locate/18488243?utm_medium=rss Sun, 1 Feb 2015 05:23:14 UTC 18488243 https://gopetition.com/signature/locate/18419910?utm_medium=rss To be able to reason is to be able to express ones concerns and feel empowered.

]]> Thu, 15 Jan 2015 10:16:22 UTC 18419910 https://gopetition.com/signature/locate/18150282?utm_medium=rss Tue, 18 Nov 2014 06:38:11 UTC 18150282 https://gopetition.com/signature/locate/18139860?utm_medium=rss Philosophy in schools is important to get children to think and to promote tolerance and understanding as opposed to ignorance and bigotry.

]]> Fri, 14 Nov 2014 10:17:31 UTC 18139860 https://gopetition.com/signature/locate/18100592?utm_medium=rss Tue, 4 Nov 2014 07:39:18 UTC 18100592 https://gopetition.com/signature/locate/17821125?utm_medium=rss Mon, 8 Sep 2014 09:03:34 UTC 17821125 https://gopetition.com/signature/locate/17511891?utm_medium=rss Thu, 19 Jun 2014 03:05:04 UTC 17511891 https://gopetition.com/signature/locate/17084849?utm_medium=rss The most important think we can do for young people is to help them learn to think properly.

]]> Mon, 24 Mar 2014 06:52:37 UTC 17084849 https://gopetition.com/signature/locate/16979576?utm_medium=rss Wed, 12 Mar 2014 02:21:33 UTC 16979576 https://gopetition.com/signature/locate/16696908?utm_medium=rss Tue, 28 Jan 2014 09:27:00 UTC 16696908 https://gopetition.com/signature/locate/16618131?utm_medium=rss I am therefore I think "Why are we here?"
Dominus Illuminatio Mea - quia caritas Dei adsumus.

]]> Mon, 13 Jan 2014 05:07:07 UTC 16618131 https://gopetition.com/signature/locate/16616130?utm_medium=rss Mon, 13 Jan 2014 08:45:43 UTC 16616130 https://gopetition.com/signature/locate/16533014?utm_medium=rss I saw a report on developing reasoning skills in young children in some US schools. This should start across the curriculum and then be followed up in later years with perhaps more specialist teaching. I am a retired Primary school teacher and many teachers do some of this informally. Appropriately trained they could add it to other programmes of learning without always timetabling it and in maybe at syllabus level depending on how organized.

]]> Mon, 6 Jan 2014 06:12:51 UTC 16533014 https://gopetition.com/signature/locate/16511706?utm_medium=rss Fri, 3 Jan 2014 09:07:38 UTC 16511706 https://gopetition.com/signature/locate/16497067?utm_medium=rss Tue, 31 Dec 2013 05:58:15 UTC 16497067 https://gopetition.com/signature/locate/16496976?utm_medium=rss Tue, 31 Dec 2013 04:52:26 UTC 16496976 https://gopetition.com/signature/locate/16495336?utm_medium=rss Helping children to think and analyse critically is far more important in these days of Google than just dealing in facts and figures. Education in the online world of readily available information should be more about asking questions than regurgitation of facts. Philosophy is the only activity that will enable children to deal with any subject area studied by human beings. Why is it that the most important Baccalaureate sort by students and their parents in France is Philosophy? A thinking population will be able to handle any development or change that the future will throw up. Teach a child a fact and will be answer that question. Teach a child to think and they will figure out answers for themselves.

]]> Mon, 30 Dec 2013 03:24:32 UTC 16495336 https://gopetition.com/signature/locate/16494214?utm_medium=rss Having listened to Angie Hobbs on Saturday Live, Radio 4, I sincerely wish that I had been introduced to Philosophy in my youth and had had the chance to debate such teasing questions such as, 'can one step in the same river twice?'. In this world of screens and technology it is vital that conversation, critical thinking and debate aren't lost.

]]> Mon, 30 Dec 2013 09:03:39 UTC 16494214 https://gopetition.com/signature/locate/16493835?utm_medium=rss My daughter read Philosophy at University and we [parents and friends] noticed a distinct improvement in how she presented her ideas and points of view.

]]> Mon, 30 Dec 2013 07:18:50 UTC 16493835 https://gopetition.com/signature/locate/16490483?utm_medium=rss Sun, 29 Dec 2013 12:15:01 UTC 16490483 https://gopetition.com/signature/locate/16490107?utm_medium=rss Sun, 29 Dec 2013 10:43:28 UTC 16490107 https://gopetition.com/signature/locate/16489905?utm_medium=rss Sun, 29 Dec 2013 09:44:28 UTC 16489905 https://gopetition.com/signature/locate/16488964?utm_medium=rss Sun, 29 Dec 2013 04:00:03 UTC 16488964 https://gopetition.com/signature/locate/16486461?utm_medium=rss Delighted to hear philosopher Angie Hobbs on Radio 4's Saturday Live this morning. Inspiring to think and appreciate how young children can be engaged in the excitement and complexity of philosophy. I agree whole heartedly in the the importance of this subject for living fruitfully in today's world. Thank you for this introduction.

]]> Sat, 28 Dec 2013 11:04:40 UTC 16486461 https://gopetition.com/signature/locate/16486407?utm_medium=rss The absence of this teaching in my own school life was a huge disappointment to me and is one that I wish for every child for the future. The significant challenges of the world require a deeper understanding of who we are and how we all might live together. My own work in neighbourhood mediation would become less important if the next generation had a stronger appreciation of the similarities between points of view and not the differences. That only comes from a mental flexibility that would be enhanced by the teaching of this subject area in schools as early as possible.

]]> Sat, 28 Dec 2013 10:43:44 UTC 16486407 https://gopetition.com/signature/locate/16485308?utm_medium=rss Sat, 28 Dec 2013 05:17:17 UTC 16485308 https://gopetition.com/signature/locate/16485172?utm_medium=rss Sat, 28 Dec 2013 04:49:42 UTC 16485172 https://gopetition.com/signature/locate/16485106?utm_medium=rss Clarity of mind is the goal of Ch'an Buddhist practice, a combination of mediation and an experiential understanding of the impermanence of all phenomena. Clarity of mind for decision making is a product of this. Without the benefit of this, children are cast adrift in temporal, myopic decision-making process that is contrary to their real interests, against their original nature and the karma accrued is destructive to self and other. The teaching of logic and reasoning will help children make the right decisions in a world that increasingly will need their charity of purpose and compassion for all sentient beings.

]]> Sat, 28 Dec 2013 04:39:18 UTC 16485106 https://gopetition.com/signature/locate/16484965?utm_medium=rss Sat, 28 Dec 2013 04:10:40 UTC 16484965 https://gopetition.com/signature/locate/16484926?utm_medium=rss Fantastic interview on radio 4 this morning (28.12.13). Agree with comments about young children being open to learning about philosophy and being able to engage in discussion. Philosophy an extremely important element to a fantastic education.

]]> Sat, 28 Dec 2013 04:03:36 UTC 16484926 https://gopetition.com/signature/locate/16484884?utm_medium=rss Sat, 28 Dec 2013 03:56:43 UTC 16484884 https://gopetition.com/signature/locate/16484717?utm_medium=rss Sat, 28 Dec 2013 03:21:37 UTC 16484717 https://gopetition.com/signature/locate/16484669?utm_medium=rss Sat, 28 Dec 2013 03:07:51 UTC 16484669 https://gopetition.com/signature/locate/16484663?utm_medium=rss Sat, 28 Dec 2013 03:06:05 UTC 16484663 https://gopetition.com/signature/locate/16476421?utm_medium=rss Philosophy and critical thinking are objectively the best subjects, because being more rational can solve all problems.

]]> Thu, 26 Dec 2013 06:25:36 UTC 16476421