critical, creative, and caring thinking

communities of practice in sydney, australia

Authors

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.12957/childphilo.2025.88325

Keywords:

critical thinking, education, collaboration, pedagogy, professional learning

Abstract

This short paper puts forward a view that the Lipman/Sharp theory of critical, creative and caring thinking is thriving, having been adapted and further developed in the Australian context due to the innovations of Splitter, Cam and others, and applications and innovations continue to the present day. Evidence of the history of P4C in Australia is spelled out in detail in Burgh & Thornton (2016) and Burgh & Thornton (2018). This paper provides an addendum to these works, highlighting a case study of a more recent joint initiative which situates this theory at the centre of teaching, learning, and well-being for students in delivery of the Australian Curriculum in New South Wales (NSW). Through a partnership between the Association for Philosophy in Schools NSW and the Centre for Critical Thinking and Ethics at Newington College, we aspire to establish a lighthouse school of community best practice showcasing a set of practices that arise from and are directly informed by the tradition spearheaded by Lipman and Sharp.

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Author Biography

britta jensen, Newington College

Britta Jensen initially held post-doctoral research and teaching roles at UK universities (Oxford, Cambridge) before re-locating to Sydney (AU). She is President of the Philosophy in Schools Assn of NSW (since 2018) and Director of the Centre for Critical Thinking & Ethics at Newington College.

References

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Published

2025-10-31

Issue

Section

dossier: “philosophy with children across boundaries”