Sir, – I refer to your editorial (August 22nd) on the embedding of philosophy into the junior cycle. The development of critical thinking is vital, not just for the study of ethics or morality, but also across all parts of the school curriculum. The ability to think logically, to understand inference, and to recognise biased arguments are all essential components of learning, independent of the actual subject being studied. In this context the study of logic per se provides a very valuable tool.
We are bringing elementary Boolean logic to schoolchildren of all ages from eight to 18 through a programme entitled UCC brings Boole2School. We have developed age-appropriate lesson plans, introducing the students to George Boole (the first professor of mathematics at Queen’s College Cork) as a historical figure, and to logic using examples from computer games and puzzles. In this way we hope to draw on students’ own experience to establish the basis of logical thinking from late primary school level onwards. Our immediate aim is to have as many students as possible take a lesson on logic on the 200th anniversary of Boole’s birth on November 2nd.
Registration for Boole2School is free and the lesson plans are available for download by teachers at georgeboole.com/boole2school. Over 600 classes (about 15,000 students) have already been registered, the majority in Ireland but with a growing number elsewhere – in the UK, US, India, China, Russia and Australia. – Yours, etc,
PATRICK FITZPATRICK,
Emeritus Professor
of Mathematics,
University College Cork.
Sir, – George Reynolds's letter concerning the advantages of teaching logic in secondary schools, though terribly worthy, is, I think, somewhat overstated. I seem to recall one of my logic textbooks beginning with the marvellous line: "The statement 'There is a rational explanation for everything' is an article of faith." – Yours, etc,
JUSTIN McCARTHY,
Spiddal,
Co Galway.