EMU Today

YPSILANTI - The Michigan area is home to a variety of institutions that offer courses in philosophy. Yet, in part due to the emphasis by the state's largest universities on the education of graduate students, little attention is paid to the actual teaching of philosophy at the secondary school and undergraduate levels.

Eastern Michigan University’s History & Philosophy Department will bring together area educators from local high schools, community colleges, colleges and universities at a conference September 24-25 to help build relationships and support among philosophy educators in the region.

The conference runs from 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. on Saturday and 9 a.m. to 5:15 p.m. on Sunday, at the EMU Halle Library, 955 W Circle Dr., in Ypsilanti.

“There are a number of national conferences on teaching philosophy each year but, to my knowledge, there has never been a conference in the Michigan area that brings together educators from local high schools, community colleges, colleges, universities, and beyond,” said Michael Doan, the Program Committee Chair of the conference and an assistant professor of philosophy at EMU. “We are hosting this conference to bring together educators who teach philosophy in the Michigan area in various contexts and under differing conditions, within and beyond institutions of different sorts.”

Conferences topics and themes include:

• What we (ought to) teach

• How we teach

• Who we teach

• Where and under what conditions we teach

• How philosophy teachers are treated within our institution

• Technology and teaching

• The future of teaching philosophy

There will also be two keynote speakers. Margaret Crouch, a professor of philosophy at EMU, will give a presentation entitled, “The Way We Teach Now: Neoliberalism and Higher Education.” Maureen Linker, a professor of philosophy at the University of Michigan-Dearborn, will give a presentation called, “Finding the ‘Goldilocks Zone’ in the Classroom.”

The conference is free and on-site registration is open to everyone. Doan encourages all philosophy students and educators in the area to attend and participate.

For more information about the conference, please contact the History & Philosophy Department at 734.487.1018 or visit the History & Philosophy Department website.

About Eastern Michigan University

Founded in 1849, Eastern is the second oldest university in Michigan. It currently serves 22,000 students pursuing undergraduate, graduate, specialist, doctoral and certificate degrees in the arts, sciences and professions. In all, more than 300 majors, minors and concentrations are delivered through the University's Colleges of Arts and Sciences; Business; Education; Health and Human Services; Technology, and its graduate school. EMU is regularly recognized by national publications for its excellence, diversity, and commitment to applied education. For more information about Eastern Michigan University, visit the University's website.