| INFORMATION FOR PARENTS |
Ethics Olympiads are being run throughout Australasia and in the US, the Ethics Bowl is held in most
US states and Canada. In the UK the John Stuart Mill Cup is held annually at St Andrew's University for
UK high schools.
The purpose of the Ethics Olympiad is to assist schools as they help students develop important skills
such as communication, collaboration and critical thinking. Unlike a debate students are not assigned
a position. Rather they take their own considered position in relation to an ethical question. As a team
the students consider carefully their response to the question and collectively present their position.
The alternate team can agree with the position taken and then they might choose to reinforce the
position, offering other supportive arguments or raise questions that might be important to consider.
Alternatively, a team might take a different position and choose to demonstrate the weaknesses in the
alternate view while offering arguments that sustain their own position. Students are rewarded for
providing careful sustained reasoning in response to the question. If they disagree with the position
taken by the other team they must demonstrate respect and civility. Teams are also given a score
based on the respect and care they demonstrate.
Each school will send a team or two teams of five students
(eth-letes). The heats will be run simultaneously- with a
common format and common timing. We will use Zoom on the
day. Coaches and eth-letes will receive training kits and 6/ 8 ethical
cases. On the day Tertiary specialists will be judging each heat
although the first heat is a practice/preparation round. There will
be a round robin format with each team taking turns to present and
critique arguments. Please note, this is not a debate as teams can
agree with each other about the best ethical outcome. All
participating students will receive a certificate and the winning
schools in each regional will receive medals to be awarded at a
school assembly.
At the event students will enjoy the interactions with other
students and teachers. The following feedback is not
uncommon;
"This event was highly enjoyable and very interesting topics were given which helped me think
more deeply about issues in this world. Also, I really enjoyed meeting new people and it was a
great opportunity."
"Thanks for a wonderful day!"
"A fantastic experience and opportunity to be challenged by ethical issues in a supportive
environment."
There are three/four heats over the day and a practice round. The top teams will be invited to
participate in a Australasian final.
Click here for the 'history and background' of the Ethics Olympiad
This year we are running the event on Zoom. 50 judges from the
tertiary sector have been trained to participate in Ethics Olympiads.
We welcome any questions you might have leading up to the event but please direct questions in the
first instance to the supervising teacher from your school.
admin@ethicsolympiad.org
Click here for a video about the event
US states and Canada. In the UK the John Stuart Mill Cup is held annually at St Andrew's University for
UK high schools.
The purpose of the Ethics Olympiad is to assist schools as they help students develop important skills
such as communication, collaboration and critical thinking. Unlike a debate students are not assigned
a position. Rather they take their own considered position in relation to an ethical question. As a team
the students consider carefully their response to the question and collectively present their position.
The alternate team can agree with the position taken and then they might choose to reinforce the
position, offering other supportive arguments or raise questions that might be important to consider.
Alternatively, a team might take a different position and choose to demonstrate the weaknesses in the
alternate view while offering arguments that sustain their own position. Students are rewarded for
providing careful sustained reasoning in response to the question. If they disagree with the position
taken by the other team they must demonstrate respect and civility. Teams are also given a score
based on the respect and care they demonstrate.
Each school will send a team or two teams of five students
(eth-letes). The heats will be run simultaneously- with a
common format and common timing. We will use Zoom on the
day. Coaches and eth-letes will receive training kits and 6/ 8 ethical
cases. On the day Tertiary specialists will be judging each heat
although the first heat is a practice/preparation round. There will
be a round robin format with each team taking turns to present and
critique arguments. Please note, this is not a debate as teams can
agree with each other about the best ethical outcome. All
participating students will receive a certificate and the winning
schools in each regional will receive medals to be awarded at a
school assembly.
At the event students will enjoy the interactions with other
students and teachers. The following feedback is not
uncommon;
"This event was highly enjoyable and very interesting topics were given which helped me think
more deeply about issues in this world. Also, I really enjoyed meeting new people and it was a
great opportunity."
"Thanks for a wonderful day!"
"A fantastic experience and opportunity to be challenged by ethical issues in a supportive
environment."
There are three/four heats over the day and a practice round. The top teams will be invited to
participate in a Australasian final.
Click here for the 'history and background' of the Ethics Olympiad
This year we are running the event on Zoom. 50 judges from the
tertiary sector have been trained to participate in Ethics Olympiads.
We welcome any questions you might have leading up to the event but please direct questions in the
first instance to the supervising teacher from your school.
admin@ethicsolympiad.org
Click here for a video about the event
| The following information is designed for teachers to use in their communication with parents. Feel free to cut and paste any of the following to use in you correspondence with parents or send this link. |
Program for the Day: • Starts 9 am - 9.15 am - Preparation • 9.15-10.30 am - Heat One (Practice) • 10.30 am -11.45 am - Heat Two • 11.45 Morning tea- Debrief • 12-1.15 - Heat Three • 1.15 pm – 1.45 Lunch (Scores to scorer) • 1.45-3pm- Heat Four • 3 pm – Farewells and photos. |