In 2016, Friends Academy freshman Charles Englander noticed the need for less demagoguery and more discourse. He wanted to look past the conventional student political clubs and create a vehicle that might possibly allow people to both debate and possibly change their minds.
During the pandemic, he and fellow classmate Alistair Wright achieved just that when they launched the then-virtual Civil Discourse Affiliation. The Upper School club began on Zoom and gained energy when students returned to campus in 2021.
“We had to move to a larger room,” recalled senior and co-clerk Alistair Wright. “We had 68 people attend that meeting and we discussed a range of topics from nuclear energy, to gun rights, to America’s role in foreign politics,” he added.
For Charles and Alistair, civil discourse is predicated on a few key pillars, including providing fact-based evidence; discussing the positives of your side, not the negatives of the other side; actively listening and responding to other people’s points; ensuring that a fact checker is part of the discussion; and most importantly, shifting your opinion as information is presented.
Since its inception, the club, advised by Upper School History Department head Steve Brennan, has become more organized – and more civil. On Saturday, Oct. 15, the club held its first symposium and invited students from Portledge and Locust Valley to join and engage in a morning of learning and practice.
Filmed by Arnold Miller for Friends Academy; Edited by Alvin Caal/Friends Academy
After a brief introduction from Charles and Alistair, the group of 15 students started with a “low-risk” mock discussion about what their favorite season was, in order to practice the tools and strategies that are quintessential to civil discourse. Students spoke from the “I” statement and refrained from repetition by using the Quaker phrase, “Friend [name] speaks my mind.” Each student outlined various reasons for their choice – seasonal allergies, seasonal activities, weather, introversion vs. extroversion, and more. Then, a curious thing happened.
“I heard some things that made me re-evaluate my stance,” shared senior Serena Saad as the overriding best season slowly changed from winter to fall in the minds of many. “There were things said that I would never have thought of,” said another student. “That Serena called out my statistic and Charlie looked it up, that was important,” pointed out Alistair, who added, “The point is to learn.”
With a vigorous session of discourse under their belts, the students graduated to more controversial topics, including whether or not a college education should be a human right and to what extent religion belongs in public life. The conversation, calm and measured, led students to examine issues of human morality, the importance of an evidence-based foundation, and how to fund schools equitably and equally.
At the close, co-clerks Charles and Alistair shared plans for a wider spring event. “This is a stepping stone that we hope will facilitate and provide civil discourse to high school students across Long Island.”
