Introduction to the Ethics Bowl: An Alternative to DebateSpecial EventIn-Person
Monday, May 12, 2025
5:00 p.m - 7:30 p.m.
Huron Club
15 Vandam St
New York, NY 10013
Our partner, Huron Club, is hosting this event.
The Ethics Bowl is a collaborative competition in which middle and high school students grapple with real-life ethical dilemmas. Unlike traditional debate formats, which emphasize crushing opponents with superior rhetoric, the Ethics Bowl format encourages both teams to reason together. Along the way, it cultivates ethical awareness, critical thinking, civil discourse, and an appreciation for different points of view. At this evening event, participants will explore the format in a low-stakes setting, using case studies from past tournaments as discussion prompts.
Cost: $15 (a $45 value, includes dinner and drinks)
Early booking exclusively for Academy Fellows*
Through April 24, Fellows can purchase a ticket for $15. Space is very limited!
*You are a Fellow of the Academy for Teachers if you have been accepted to, and attended, an in-person master class.
John Keenan
John Keenan teaches at Mary McDowell Friends School, a small Quaker school in Brooklyn for students with learning disabilities. He has taught courses in philosophy, religion, civics, global studies, physics, and mathematics. He is a founding coach of the school’s Ethics Bowl team, a two-time NYC semifinalist. He has presented at conferences on topics such as pre-college philosophy teaching, mission-driven pedagogy, and cosmopolitan philosophy of education. He holds an MA in philosophy and education from Teachers College, Columbia, and a BA in philosophy from Colorado College. John is a proud dog dad who enjoys pierogi, negronis, hiking, and biking.