The Prindle Institute hosted the second annual Putnam County Middle School Ethics Bowl this past weekend, welcoming students from Greencastle Middle School, North Putnam Middle School, and South Putnam Middle School for a day of rigorous, thoughtful competition.

Teams faced challenging ethical cases that asked them to reason carefully, listen well, and engage respectfully with perspectives different from their own—exactly the kind of thinking that healthy civic life depends on. The gym was loud with ideas. The hallways were full of students still debating between rounds. That’s what a good Ethics Bowl looks like.

At the end of the day, North Putnam Middle School took home the Grand Champion title, capping an exceptional performance that showcased just how capable young people are of grappling with hard questions. Congratulations to all three schools, and to every student who walked into the room ready to think.

The skills practiced here matter beyond the competition: building an argument, hearing a counterpoint, changing your mind for good reasons, holding your position for better ones. These are skills for life, and for democracy.

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