Socrates Cafe

SOCRATES CAF IN SCHOOLS Anita R Goral

Professional Communication Section 16

Socrates Cafe

Table of Contents Executive Summary2 Proposals Purpose..3 Problem3 Solution4 Conclusion... 4 References.6 Appendix.7

Socrates Cafe Executive Summary Purpose The communication skills for many young adults have been rapidly declining since technology has become more predominate in our society. Unfortunately, there are not many programs for young adults to discuss current events and modern day issues face to face. The goal of this proposal is to address the issue of poor communication skills through an after school program called Socrates Caf. Problem Technology is a great tool to help young adults connect and communicate, however it also prevents them from connecting on a face to face level. When speaking primarily though texting or emailing they lose that personal connection that speaking to someone's face can make. There are so few times young adults can speak face to face in a safe, non-judgmental place. Solution Christopher Phillips wrote a book called Socrates Caf in 2001. Since then, discussion groups, nicked names Socrates Caf, meet up all over the world. The Idea of Socrates Caf is to bring philosophy to the everyday individual. According to The American Heritage Dictionary, Philosophy is "The critical analysis of fundamental assumptions or beliefs." If an after school program was introduced into high schools where students can sit down and evaluate their beliefs in a safe environment, then they will feel more comfortable speaking in a more personal way. Conclusion Socrates Cafs are being held around the world because they offer a great way to connect with people on a close personal level. They are designed to explore fundamental assumptions and beliefs, not attack them. Introducing Socrates Caf into school will encourage young adults to speak more freely, and connect on a more personal level.

Socrates Cafe Purpose The communication skills for many young adults have been rapidly declining since technology has become more predominate in our society. Unfortunately, there are not many programs for young adults to discuss current events and modern day issues face to face. Despite the rise of digital communication, Melissa Ortega, a child psychologist at New York's Child Mind Institute, said, adolescents will need to converse. "I can't imagine these kids sitting down in an interview and having a reciprocal conversation easily," she said. "They haven't had these years of learning about awkward pauses. Being able to tolerate the discomfort is not something they're going to be used to, unless their parents make it a priority. The goal of this proposal is to address the issue of poor communication skills through an after school program called Socrates Caf.

Problem Currently, young adults seem to prefer to communicate via short hand over text message or instant messaging instead of communicating in a deep conversation face to face. As of 2011, due to a study done by Elizabeth K Englander, young adults are becoming more and more plugged-in. (see appendix A) Her research showed that over 90% of all children are doing some kind of online work by third grade. In addition, by middle school over 80% of children own a cell phone. Over time, we can notice that their communication skills seem to drop. It gets harder to communicate them on a personal level and professionally they lose their creditability. According to James Causey from the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, studies today suggest that texting and social media have made it difficult for kids to hold conversations. Some have suggested that basic conversation has become a thing of the past. Smartphones make it easy to have a one-way

Socrates Cafe conversation. Texting allows you to say what you want to say without being interrupted and makes it easier for you to get your point across. We must find a way to make it easier for young adults and children to practice their communication skills.

Solution In 2011 Christopher Phillips came up with a solution in his book titled Socrates Caf. Socrates Caf challenges people to bring philosophy to their everyday lives. Since then, discussion groups, nicked names Socrates Caf, meet up all over the world. According to The American Heritage Dictionary, Philosophy is "The critical analysis of fundamental assumptions or beliefs" If an after school program was introduced into high schools where students can sit down and evaluate their beliefs in a safe environment, then they will feel more comfortable speaking in a more personal way. During an Interview with Ortega, she states, Conversation takes practice, and a dependence on devices can make it that much harder for children who are already struggling socially.they may have trouble initiating interactions, those small talk situations. They don't have as much experience doing it because they're not engaging in it ever. If we can take an hour or two out of each week for our children to just sit can communicate imagine how much more skilled they would be. By encouraging a philosophical discussion, they also will be much more well-rounded and knowledgeable, thus making them more creditable.

Conclusion According to the American Heritage Dictionary, Philosophy comes from the Greek word philosophi, from philosophos, lover of wisdom, philosopher.4 Philosophy is not only for the

Socrates Cafe college graduate student, or the "highly intellectual" people who seem to know a lot about everything, which is why they are being held around the world. They offer a great way to connect with people on a close personal level. They are designed to explore fundamental assumptions and beliefs, not attack them. Introducing Socrates Caf into school will encourage young adults to speak more freely, and connect on a more personal level. It will also increase their creditability and promote more one on one conversation. It is vital that we take some time after school to encourage our children to speak face to face. Without this skill we can hardly hope for their success.

Socrates Cafe References Bindley, K. (2011, December 9th). When Children Text All Day, What Happens To Their Social Skills? The Huffington Post. Retrieved from http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2011/12/09/childrentexting-technology-social-skills_n_1137570.html Englander, Elizabeth K. (2011). Research Findings: MARC 2011 Survey Grades 3-12. In MARC Research Reports. Paper 2. Retrieved from http://cdn.theatlantic.com/static/mt/assets/science/Research%20Findings_%20MARC%202011% 20Survey%20Grades%203-12.pdf Causey, J. (2011, December 9). Texting is replacing real conversation. Journal Sentinel. Retrieved from http://www.jsonline.com/blogs/news/135333513.html The American Heritage Dictionary of the English Language, (5th ed.). (2011). Retrieved from http://www.ahdictionary.com/word/search.html?q=Philosophy Socrates caf. (n.d.). Retrieved May 4, 2013, from http://www.socratescafemn.org/

Socrates Cafe Appendix A

Grade

% Boys with Cell Phones

% Girls with Cell Phones 18% 26% 39% 84% 84%

% Boys Online

% Girls Online

Grade 03 Grade 04 Grade 05 Middle School High School

20% 25 % 39% 83% 86%

93% 92% 92% 91% 93%

90% 92% 91% 92% 93%

100% 90% 80% 70% 60% 50% 40% 30% 20% 10% 0% Grade 03 Grade 04 Grade 05 Middle School High School % Boys with Cell Phones % Girls with Cell Phones % Boys Online % Girls Online

In a study done by Elizabeth K Englander in 2011 young adults are becoming more and more plugged-in. Her research showed that over 90% of all children are doing some kind of online work by third grade. In addition, by middle school over 80% of children own a cell phone. Earlier and earlier our children are being able to communicate via technology and not face to face.