听说上个月在上海美高学校上演了三场“神仙打架”，“辩手们”无论是语速还是脑速，都让现场任课老师们刮目相看。没机会观摩这三场辩论会的家长们，也别觉得遗憾，小编这就带你走进上海美高学校社会科学部之高中辩论会，同学们的精彩表现一次让你看个够!

上海美高学校高中班级辩论活动

背景介绍

上海美高学校社会科学部致力于引导学生运用批判性思考和辩证思维来分析社会、国际议题。这是学生未来学习和参与工作所必要的能力。为推展这个宗旨，社科部在三月于高中和初中部安排了六场班级辩论活动。本文介绍高中的部分。

The Social Science Department at LWS is devoted to inspire students to apply critical and dialectical thinking to analyze social and international issues. This is a required capacity for students’ future study and career. In order to promote this goal, the department organized six debate activities in High School and Middle School in March. Here we introduce the high school sessions.

美国历史议题：人民是否有权持有枪支?

班级：美国历史

Class: US History

课题：人民应当有权持有枪支吗?

Topic: Should people have the rights to own guns?

任课老师: Philip Galletta

Subject teacher：Philip Galletta

参与学生Participating students：Ben Li, Katrina Lin, Angel Wang, Angela Ma (For gun, 正方); Hanson Huang, Molata Fu, Andy Shen (against gun, 反方)

枪支问题在美国已引起许多热议。在美国历史课，学生对此议题发表了看法。

The issue of gun rights has aroused much debate in the US. In the US History class of LWS, students presented their opinions about it.

正方队伍基于几个原因支持人民拥枪。首先，美国宪法第二修正案保障人民的拥枪权;其次，关于不同国家的统计数据表明，禁枪法不能降低犯罪，开放拥枪才能降低犯罪。不论法律是否禁枪，不肖份子都会以非法渠道获得枪支，而一般人民则需要枪支自保。

The affirmative side support gun rights because of these reasons. First, The Second Amendment of the US Constitution protects individual gun ownership. Second, statistical data from different countries shows that gun control laws do not deter crime. Rather, gun ownership deters crime. The outlaws own illegal firearms regardless of law, while ordinary people need guns to protect themselves.

反方队伍以另一批统计数据呈现拥枪权和枪杀致死率之间的正相关。还指出，开放拥枪会对社会稳定和人民生命财产的安全带来潜在危险。有些人原本是基于自保而购枪，但他们可能在遭受情绪和人际关系波动时失控而伤害他人。

The opponent group was against gun rights. They used different data to demonstrate the positive relationship between gun rights and gunshot casualty. Also, they suggested that possession of firearms has great potential of danger, which affects the stability of the society and the safety of people's lives and property. Some people hold guns only for self-protection in the beginning. But they might use guns to hurt others when they went through emotional or interpersonal turbulence.

经过正反方热烈辩论，正方获票选得胜。反方则希望日后再进行第二次辩论。

The students had a hot debate. Finally, the affirmative group was voted as the winner. The opponent group called for a second round in the future.

商务学议题：英国是否应该脱欧?

班级：商务学

Class: Business studies

课题：英国是否应该脱欧?

Topic: Brexit vs. Bremain

任课老师: Romaric Berger

Subject teacher: Romaric Berger

参与学生Participating students: Angel Wang, Katrina Lin, Louie Sun (affirmative group); Angela Ma, Sherry Hua, Elina Jing (opponent group).

在本场辩论，学生指出脱欧对英国的好处和坏处。他们从几个方面探讨次议题。

In this debate, students presented pros and cons of Brexit for the UK. They touched difference aspects of the issue.

商务学议题

首先是社会和经济方面。正方(赞成脱欧)采取民族主义立场，申论脱欧可让英国获得更多独立性和自由。反方(反对脱欧)则提到英国人在欧洲旅游和生活的权益。目前英国人在欧洲可享免费健保和免签旅行，货币流通也很方便。这些便利在脱欧后都会受到冲击。

The first is social and economic aspect. On one hand, the Brexit group held nationalism, arguing that Brexit could let UK gain more independence and freedom.The Bremain group (against Brexit) was arguing about the right for British citizen to travel and live, in Europe. They brought the point that current British citizens are enjoying free healthcare across Europe and don't need a visa to travel in Europe. Money flows to Europe is convenient. They could all become relatively difficult after Brexit.

另方面是移民问题，正方认为脱欧可使英国重新掌握边境管制，阻断外来移民流。反方则引述研究发现，认为接纳外来移民可对国家产生益处。

The other aspect is migration.The Brexit group suggested that UK will be able to gain the control back of their boarders, and allow them to block the flux of incoming refugees. The Bremain group argued that several studies show that a positive flow of refugees is a benefit for the welcoming country.

西方哲学议题：模拟法庭

班级：西方哲学

Class: Western Philosophy

任课老师: Manu Saez

Teacher: Manu Saez

参与学生: 全班学生

Participating students: the whole class

西方哲学课程触及了许多道德两难的课题。该班举行了一场“模拟法庭”来讨论两难个案。其中一个个案是关于Callie Smart的。她患有脑瘫，却担任了美国一所高中的啦啦队队员。她很受欢迎，能激励人心。但她在赛季结束时被踢出啦啦队。有些家长表示担心她的安全，认为不适合让她担任此工作。

The Western Philosophy class touches many topics of moral dilemma. They held a moot court on such cases. One is about Callie Smartt. She was a popular cheerleader of an American high school, despite she had brain palsy. Even if she was able to inspire school spirit, she was kicked off the team at the end of the season. Some other parents claimed that they were concerned for her safety and considered it inconvenient to have her on the team.

两组学生对此个案发表看法。组为Callie辩护，认为既然她受欢迎且表现突出，将她踢出啦啦队是不公平的。第二组则认为啦啦队代表学校，Callie可能会影响学校的对外形象，招致公众议论，而且啦啦队的工作真的可能会损害她的身体。最后，担任陪审团的队伍认为第二组的表现较突出且有说服力。

Students of two groups presented their opinions about this case. The group which defended Callie suggested that given Callie was popular and could inspire others, the decision of kicking her off was unfair. The other group argued that cheerleaders represent the school, and Callie might influence the image of the school and invoke controversy in the public. At last, the work of cheerleading could really impact her health. Finally, the jury group deemed the second group more convincing.

西方哲学议题

作为社会中的一份子，每位学生天然会对某一社会现象、人物行为持某种个人观点。美高社会科学部将对学生思辨能力的培养和拓展引入课堂，尊重每一位学生的独特性，允许多样化、开放性的视角与观点。除此之外，举办辩论会还能提升学生的自信心，培养跨文化意识和团队合作的能力。

总结以上三场课内辩论会，学生的表现都很优秀。如美高Philip老师所说，孩子们在这次辩论会上表现了真正的热情并进行了充分准备，这些将有助于他们在未来人生路上获得成功。最后感谢Philip、Romaric和Manu三位老师。日后美高社科部将尝试组织全高中部的辩论会，并进一步带动批判性思考和社会关怀的素养。敬请期待!

To conclude these three in-class debates, the students made outstanding achievements. As Philip commented, they have shown true passion and preparation that will carry them through life to succeed. Thanks to Philip, Romaric, and Manu. In the future, Social Science Department will try to organize debates in the whole high school, to further promote the capacity of critical thinking and concerns for social issues.

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