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South Carolina High School Ethics Bowl: A Showcase of Critical Thinking and Ethical Deliberation
Fourteen teams from across South Carolina converged at Wofford College for the SC High School Ethics Bowl on Saturday, January 20th. This competition, aimed at fostering critical thinking and ethical decision-making, brought students together to engage in insightful discussions on a variety of topics.
Competition Format:
The SC High School Ethics Bowl follows a unique format where each round consists of two teams, each composed of five students. The teams are tasked with making a presentation on a given case study, responding to their opponents' presentation, and fielding questions from judges. This dynamic structure encourages participants to not only articulate their perspectives but also engage in thoughtful dialogue with their peers.
Diverse Topics:
The breadth of topics covered in the Ethics Bowl reflects the diversity of ethical considerations in our society. Participants grappled with personal decisions such as end-of-life care for the elderly and the intricacies of gift-giving. Additionally, the competition delved into larger political issues, including debates on copyright for AI-generated images and the promotion of healthy food choices in schools.
CCES's Notable Performance:
Among the standout performances, Christ Church Episcopal School (CCES) emerged as a formidable contender, securing 2nd place overall. In the culminating round of the competition, CCES students engaged in a thought-provoking discussion on the ethical issues surrounding nuclear non-proliferation and its implications for global politics. Their journey through the competition was marked by articulate presentations and insightful responses. However, in a closely contested final match, CCES narrowly lost to Dorman High School.
The SC High School Ethics Bowl not only serves as a platform for healthy competition but also as a forum for nurturing ethical reasoning and critical thinking skills among the next generation. The participants, through their exploration of diverse topics, demonstrated the importance of engaging in ethical deliberation to navigate the complexities of personal and societal decision-making.
“I think our team performed outstandingly. They did not lose a match until the final round, and the matches that they won were won by a considerable margin. They entered the semi-final round as the team with the highest point total overall. They drew an immensely difficult opponent and a really difficult case in the final round, but only lost by a slim margin. They composed, on the fly, substantial answers to maddeningly complex situations. They did themselves and CCES proud.” -Jason Smith, CCES Teacher & Ethics Bowl Coach
"It was one of the most exciting and frustrating things I've ever done. I never thought much about morality until last Saturday. I realize now how empathy and justice are vital to this ever-changing, ever-complex world." -Amanda ‘26
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(L to R) Coach Jason Smith, Millie ‘27, Jonathan ‘27, Amanda ‘26, Nelson ‘24, Owen ‘26, coach Erick Bousman, and Mackenzie ‘25.
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Christ Church Episcopal School (“CCES”) admits students of any race, color, national and ethnic origin to all the rights, privileges, programs, and activities generally accorded or made available to students at CCES. CCES does not discriminate on the basis of sex, race, color, national or ethnic origin, creed, religion, or sexual orientation in the administration of its educational policies, admission policies, financial aid, scholarship or other programs, or athletic or other school-administered programs and activities.