What is the Ethics Bowl?

The goal of the Ethics Bowl is to increase students’ awareness and sensitivity to ethical issues, to encourage collaborative thinking, and to promote civil discourse.

Each fall, the NHSEB releases a set of cases covering a broad range of ethical dilemmas and issues, which serve as the focus for the year. Teams meet together regularly with a coach to research the cases, to discuss the issues they raise, and to identify clearly how they think those issues should be addressed. Teams then compete in multiple rounds at the Regional Ethics Bowl, during which teams are presented with the issues they have had the opportunity to study and analyze in advance, and are asked questions about the cases.

The structure of this event is very similar to a debate tournament; however, the Ethics Bowl is competitive but not adversarial, which is one key difference between the Ethics Bowl and a traditional debate. In the Ethics Bowl, teams can agree but for different reasons. The format of the competition allows for teams to respond to each other, and to respond to questions from the judges.

How are teams judged?

Teams are judged on the quality of their analysis of each situation. They earn points during each round for their presentations, their responses to judges, as well as their questions and responses to opponents (see a sample score sheet in the Resources section of this website). Following the first three rounds, four semi-finalists are identified based on total points. The winners of each semi-final round go on to compete in the final round.

The students of all the semi-finalist teams in the Palm Beach County Regional High School Ethics Bowl , as well as their schools, will receive scholarships. The school scholarship is paid directly to the school and should be used to reinvest in and promote the Ethics Bowl in some way. Possible options include a stipend toward an Ethics Bowl coach, a donation to an Ethics Club, a scholarship to a participating senior on the Ethics Bowl team, or reimbursement/future payment for registration or travel fees for participation in the Ethics Bowl.

The winning team of the Palm Beach County Regional High School Ethics Bowl is eligible to participate in a play-off round against another regional winner. The winner of that play-off round qualifies to participate at the National Ethics Bowl competition held at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, with assistance toward participation expenses covered by the Palm Beach County Regional High School Ethics Bowl sponsors.

Ethics Bowl Day: How it Works: A helpful visual from A2Ethics.org

How can I get my school involved?

Create a team by identifying 3-5 interested students and a school sponsor, then get permission from the principal to participate.

See the Registration & Resources tab on this website for directions on how to register and links to resources that can help you prepare for competition.

If you still have questions or need additional information, please contact Dr. Becky Youngman at becky.younmgan@palmbeachschools.org or Dr. Peter Cruise at pcruise@fau.edu.