The School District of Palm Beach County and the Department of Student Intervention Services will host the third annual High School Ethics Bowl on Saturday, Jan. 11 at Palm Springs Middle School.
This year, 17 schools with a total of 26 teams of students are participating, nearly doubling the number of last year’s ethics bowl. The community is invited to support the teams, schools and coaches by attending this year’s ethics bowl.
An ethics bowl is a collaborative, yet competitive event that provides an educational experience for students to increase their understanding of current, complex social issues.
The bowl enhances students’ sense of ethical commitment by demonstrating the importance of virtues and values in decision making. Ethics bowl discussion promotes independent, critical thinking skills and creates respect for the positions of others.
This year’s participating high schools are: Atlantic, Boca Raton, Forest Hill, John I. Leonard, Jupiter, Lake Worth, Olympic Heights, Oxbridge Academy, Palm Beach Central, Palm Beach Gardens, Palm Beach Lakes, Santaluces, South Intensive Transition, Spanish River, Suncoast, Turning Points, West Boca and William T. Dwyer high schools. Topics include use of conscientious objection, physician assisted suicide and security versus privacy.
Community and business leaders, local government officials, and school district personnel serve as judges and moderators. The winning team receives an invitation to compete at the National High School Ethics Bowl in April at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. The event is a partnership between UNC and the Parr Center for Ethics.
For more information, contact Ellen Van Arsdale at (561)494-1569 or Ellen.VanArsdale@palmbeachschools.org.
