At Holy Cross Boys School in North Belfast, disputes are resolved in the schoolyard at the philosophy board, where youngsters learn to think and reason for themselves. Headmaster Kevin McArevey – a stoic who sings to Elvis Presley – is shaking up the status quo. By teaching philosophy to boys in a “post-conflict zone”, he changes the school and the community. The film traces the dream of the headmaster and his visionary team and shows how critical thinking and pastoral care can empower and encourage children to look beyond the boundaries and limitations of their own community.
We see how philosophy can encourage them to question the mythologies of war and violence and challenge the narratives of their community.
“Young Plato” sheds a positive light on Northern Ireland today and offers a model for building a culture of peace in these troubled times.