Philosophy for Children: Some Thoughts

I'd like to start our discussion this week of Philosophy for Children by reference back to our thoughts of class structure and division.

1) Class division is perpetuated largely by the apathy and acceptance of the middle and lower classes.

I understand this may be contentious but if the middle and lower classes, who largely outnumber the higher were to demand change and work to see it happen, change would come. Our education has been too effective in breeding mindless drones, however, and we allow the rich to further exploit us by our very inaction.

2) Critical thinking adults would be far less willing to accept their position in a patently unfair system.

There is not much to say about this premise. If the system is unfair, as I am suggesting it is, solution and change will only be more likely by the introduction of more critical thought and more autonomous people, unwilling to be forcefully led by the upper classes.

3) Philosophy for Children would produce more critical thinking and more autonomous adults.

Learning to think critically at a young age will habituate such action and by virtue of being more critical thinking, will beget more autonomy as well. If philosophy was introduced at all grade levels, critical thinking, and thereby autonomy, would be more frequent and potent.

4) Therefore, PFC could be an effective method by which to bring reform to the economic, and therefore educational system.

Questions: Are my premises correct? Which are not? Why?