Middle School Students Participate In Mock Debate
Nervous energy filled the Barker Performing Arts Center earlier this week as Middle School students took the stage to participate in a mock presidential debate.
The debate focused on both domestic and foreign policy, with teams presenting arguments from both the Republican and Democratic point of view. The students were randomly assigned a political party to represent, after winning an essay contest on the importance of casting a responsible vote.
“One of the most important rights the people of the United States have also gives its citizens great power to protect our democracy: this is the right to vote. However, before we can cast a responsible vote, it is our obligation to learn everything possible about the issues involved. This is why we are here today,” Head of Middle School Charles Hagy said, as he introduced the debate.
Each side started with opening statements, followed by questions on wide-ranging topics from immigration to trade.
“The American people desire change from the Democratic policies inflicted on us for the past eight years,” Ella Pierman, representing the GOP, said during her opening statement.
Both sides, made up of six students each, offered up proposals consistent with their party’s platform. Debaters on the GOP side were: seventh-graders Ella Pierman, Grace Kearns, Demi den Bakker, Shang Wang, Camilo Saiz and eighth-grader Carter Stewart. The Democratic side was made up of seventh-graders Andrew McDonough, Sadie Burns, Emeline Smith, John-Vincent Janin and eighth grader Michelle Pfeifer.
Students in the audience were asked to study each party’s position on each of the issues and take notes as if they were journalists preparing to write a story. Student’s notes were then collected by their respective history teachers and discussed.
The event was coordinated by Head of Middle School Charles Hagy and Social Studies Department Chair Marshall Mullnix. Middle School students will vote in a mock presidential election on October 25.
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A premier PK3 - Grade 12 independent, coeducational day school with campuses in North Palm Beach and Palm Beach Gardens. Since 1960, The Benjamin School has provided a challenging college preparatory education to a diverse student body in a structured, nurturing community environment.