This World Philosophy day, two of our team, Annie and Lucy, attended a reception at Áras an Uachtaráin hosted by President and Sabina Higgins. We were proud to bring along students from our first in-school pilot at Scoil Iognaid and honoured to listen to President Higgins’ inspiring words that afternoon.
In his address, President Higgins called for a less utilitarian approach to education, citing the need to give students the skills required to be effective, open and proactive citizens in the future.
Ending his speech, and quoting Leonard Cohen, he urged the school children present to ‘Ring the bells that still can ring’, allowing philosophy, a process he described as ‘full of joy’ to transform both their thinking and their action.
The event marked the launch of the Young Philosopher of the Year awards, sponsored by UCD, which are open to all school children on the island of Ireland and will culminate in a festival of thought at UCD in May 2018.
Further details of the competition can be found here.
galwayp4c.com 