Ethics Bowl may look superficially similar to debate—with two teams discussing a controversial or difficult topic—but they are actually very different.
“So, Ethics Bowl more broadly describes an activity for students of varying ages to come together and approach these really challenging topics, ethical dilemmas,” says Leo Kirby, director of the National High School Ethics Bowl program, housed at the University of North Carolina (UNC) in Chapel Hill.
“And the goal is to help them learn how to talk about those challenging topics deliberately, collaboratively, reach consensus.”
In Ethics Bowl, teams are not assigned a specific position on an issue that they have to defend, regardless of their beliefs. Instead, team members are given a set of cases to discuss and make their own decisions about what they believe to be the true or best position. Teams can, and often do, come to similar conclusions. It is OK for them to agree. Scoring is based on how deeply they explore the issues, including other viewpoints.
One of this year’s cases: “If it were possible to erase painful or distressing memories, would it be ethical to do so?”
The high school program at UNC started in 2012.
“We’re trying to steer away from the type of crushing victory over your opponent that something like debate might encourage,” says Kirby, who discovered ethics bowl as a UNC undergraduate. “We absolutely do not reward putting down the other team.”
Dr. Jenny Lyman watched her older daughter compete in debate and thinks ethics bowl is a kinder, gentler pursuit.
“It’s not about beating somebody … I think the judges care about how you present, how you respond, how you react to their questions, and I think all of that matters, which I like,” she says in between rounds at the UNC student union recently. “You know, politeness and civility and open discussion instead of just me convincing you I’m right and you’re wrong. And I think we need a little bit more of that in the world these days.
This article and video were provided by The Associated Press.
[Lizzie Lyman making point]
Lizzie Lyman (interview): “Every time I say, `Oh, I’m going to Ethics Bowl,’ everyone’s like, `What is Ethics Bowl?”
[Coach’s ID badge]
[Ethics Bowl Director Leo Kirby addressing crowd]
[Ethics Bowl logo]
Leo Kirby (interview): “So, Ethics Bowl more broadly describes an activity for students of varying ages to come together and approach these really challenging topics, ethical dilemmas.”
[Students and moderator during match]
[Sheet with “case set” for discussion]
[Team preparing argument]
Leo Kirby (interview): “And the goal is to help them learn how to talk about those challenging topics deliberately, collaboratively, reach consensus.”
[Students speaking and collaborating]
Lizzie Lyman (interview): “My dad was like, `Oh. That’s just our dinner table.’ And that’s true. Every day at my dinner table, basically, this sort of stuff happens. And it’s what I love.”
[Lyman conferring with teammates]
[Kevin and Jenny Lyman, Lizzie’s parents]
Kevin Lyman (interview): “What has always impressed me is her willingness to listen to other people and to change her opinion when she feels it’s appropriate.”
[Lizzie talking to dad]
Kevin Lyman (interview): “So, it doesn’t surprise me. We were delighted when we found out about this. It was such kind of, it was just tailor-made for her.”
Leo Kirby (interview): “We’re trying to steer away from the type of crushing victory over your opponent that something like debate might encourage.”
[Poster describing “ETHICS ED”]
[Books on shelf]
Leo Kirby (interview): “We absolutely do not reward putting down the other team. We are not in the business of any sort of gotcha moments.”
[Midtown team member Kate Krugman speaking]
[Teams during match]
Lizzie Lyman (interview): “I think Ethics Bowl, the core principle of Ethics Bowl, of listening and building off of each other, is something that’s so important and something that we seem to have kind of lost recently with political and just general conflict in our society.”
[Midtown team conferring]
[Midtown coaches chatting]
[Sheet with discussion topic]
Dr. Jenny Lyman (interview): “It’s not about beating somebody, it’s about, in fact it’s almost how you play the game in this one, I think the judges care about how you present, how you respond, how you react to their questions, and I think all of that matters, which I like. You know, politeness and civility and open discussion instead of just me convincing you I’m right and you’re wrong. And I think we need a little bit more of that in the world these days.”
[Judges]
[BASIS Flagstaff team huddling]
[Lizzie making point]
[Midtown student Eve Nahmias sitting out round]
Leo Kirby (interview): “The National High School Ethics Bowl at UNC has been around since 2012.”
[Kirby on stage with students]
Leo Kirby (interview): “We have representation at this championship competition from 42 regionals.”
[People in audience]
Leo Kirby (interview): “Thirty-four different states.”
[People in audience]
Leo Kirby (interview): “All of this equates to over 4,000 students across the country competing in National High School Ethics Bowl regional events.”
Kevin Lyman (interview): “This is their first time. I mean, this team did not exist last year. They started out of whole cloth this year.”
[Banner with Ethics Bowl logo]
Dr. Jenny Lyman (interview): “And from not existing, they won the state, the region, and now they’re in the nationals, and then they just won the quarterfinals.”
[Moderator announcing that BASIS Flagstaff had defeated Midtown]
[BASIS team with trophy]
[Kevin Lyman consoling crying daughter]
Lizzie Lyman (interview): “It’s a bummer, obviously. And I’m going to be sad. And we’re all sad that it has to end. But I agree that it’s not about beating people. And that’s a conversation we’ve had while we practice nearly every time. It’s never about winning. Because when it becomes about winning and beating the other team, it gets hostile and just unsavory.”
[BASIS and Midtown students shaking hands]
[Lizzie Lyman clapping as team discusses performance]
Cheryl Nahmias (interview): “For a new team who’s never done this before to make it to essentially the final four, it’s really… they’ve exceeded my expectations.”
[Nahmias with team and parents]
Cheryl Nahmias (interview): “Literally could not be prouder of our team.”
Leo Kirby (interview): “We have incredibly intelligent and competent young people who are preparing for and probably in many ways already ready to take on a lot of the responsibilities of helping heal our country and our world.”
[Participants chatting, laughing]
[Students in front of screen with words “FIN: THANK YOU. WE’LL SEE YOU NEXT YEAR”]
This script was provided by The Associated Press.