Initially, I disagreed with Modulous. If philosophy is to be taught, let's introduce a philosophy class (which is a good idea in my opinion).
Finally, I think elementary school subjects would benefit from some inter-disciplinary teaching, even if only in the first couple weeks.
After all, science began as philosophy, as did math, and I think it is terrible that we do not give kids a feel for this.
Many American kids are turned off of science because it feels so impersonal. The way I was taught it, it *was* impersonal!
Why not teach it like a history class? Grades 1-5 usually do not sport top-notch science programs anyhow, but rather disjointed bits and pieces: Look, dinasaurs! Look, planets and their orbits. Let's memorize their distance from the sun and earth! Look, this is how flowers work! Let's memorize the names of bones!
Maybe it'd be more interesting and cohesive to walk kids through the steps of thought that led to where we are today. Talk the kids through (vastly) simplified Greek thought and logic, do Galileo's experiments with notched boards and billiards. Make kids feel like they are walking directly in the footsteps of those great men and women who have shaped today. All this should include religious theory and all that.
I feel that if kids are led by the hand on such an adventure, we'd have a greater appreciation for subjects across the board, as well as for the sciences and math.
This is by no means a science class anymore, but a school curriculum, and is in no way revolutionary. My father got this sort of education in a Catholic school taught by Jesuits (or some other sort of monks) in Lebanon in the '50s.
-ap-
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