Why Isn't Philosophy Included in Malaysian High School Curriculum?

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Discussion Overview

The discussion centers on the absence of philosophy in the Malaysian high school curriculum, exploring the potential benefits and challenges of including it as a subject. Participants reflect on their experiences and opinions regarding the teaching of philosophy in schools, comparing it to other subjects such as moral studies and religion.

Discussion Character

  • Debate/contested
  • Conceptual clarification
  • Exploratory

Main Points Raised

  • Some participants question why philosophy is not included in the Malaysian high school syllabus, suggesting it is a valuable subject worth studying.
  • Others note that in the US, philosophy is typically not part of the public school curriculum until college, although related subjects like sociology and psychology are offered.
  • One participant expresses strong support for philosophy being taught in middle or high school, while also raising concerns about the general population's ability to comprehend abstract concepts.
  • Another participant argues that philosophy, being broader and more necessary than religion, should take precedence in education.
  • Several participants share personal experiences with philosophy classes, noting varying levels of comprehension and engagement among students.
  • A suggestion is made for philosophy to be offered as an elective course in the later years of high school, recognizing the challenges of teaching it to younger students without prior exposure.

Areas of Agreement / Disagreement

Participants generally agree that philosophy should be included in the curriculum, but there is disagreement regarding the age appropriateness and the effectiveness of teaching it to teenagers. The discussion remains unresolved regarding the best approach to integrating philosophy into education.

Contextual Notes

Some participants express uncertainty about the general population's readiness for abstract thought required in philosophy, and there are references to the varying effectiveness of philosophy education based on individual experiences.

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In malaysia, our schools have the subject of Moral Study or Civic.
I donno why it is not Philosophy?
If philosophy worth studying, why not include it into high school syllubus?
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in the US philosophy isn't curriculum in public schools until college.
There is of course sociology and psychology, but no philosophy- at least not as a separate course.
 
I definetally agree with that Philosophy should be a subject in either mid-school or high-school.
 
Originally posted by pace
I definetally agree with that Philosophy should be a subject in either mid-school or high-school.

that's a tough call. I mean obviously the teenagers who come here are not a good example, but the overall population of teenagers.. would they benefit from it or even be able to accurately comprehend it? It requires a lot of abstract thought. Now mind you I'm talking about the general population, but I'm sure there are private schools, and some public where it's given as an elective.

Of course tht leads to the sad state of the US school system... but that' another topic;)
 
Originally posted by Zantra
It requires a lot of abstract thought.

So does religion.

And I'd rather have philosophy then religion. Even when I was a christian, and after some thought, I was decisive on this. After a little while with ph. I've always felt philosophy is more wide, and above religion, and thus more necessary.
 
Last edited:
Good point I know I would have benefit from the class early on.
 
I took a 2 week introduction to a course of philosophy taught at a university in my 8th year of school and I thought it broadened my mind quite a bit but I think it didn't have the same effect on a good deal of my class mates. Even though there were students several years older then myself, some were more focused on 'working the wording' then trying to understand the concepts. It would also be a difficult subject to teach to teenagers who have not had some kind of experience with it in one way or another.

I think it would be a great idea as an elective course at about the 11th or 12th years of school
 
I took a philosophy class in high school called Theory of Knowledge. I thought it was week, but only because philosophy has been an interest of mine for quite sometime.
 

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