On Friday, Nov. 4, from 1 to 2:30 p.m. in the Boothbay Region High School gymnasium, students in Mark Gorey’s two AP Language and Composition classes will debate the Boothbay “roundabout” proposal, the Q1 state ballot initiative to legalize marijuana for recreational use, and “immigration” from the perspective of the four presidential candidates.

BRHS welcomes the public to attend this 2016 election forum, as students debate the issues all the while modeling “civil discourse.” Audience members will also have the opportunity to pose questions for our students. Due to time constraints, audience members will not be able to rebut students’ answers to questions.

Last year just before Christmas vacation, BRHS students debated the issue of “gun control” in just such a school-wide forum.

One of the central learning goals of the national AP Language curriculum is for students to become more informed citizens.

In the beginning of October 2016, each student in the two classes of AP Language literally drew “out of a video box” a topic and a slant or position on that topic; this randomized method results in many students being tasked to defend a position which is the opposite of their personal preferences.

On Friday, Oct. 21, Rotarians Vic Taylor, Chip Griffin, and Bill Bailey came to the two classes, listened to students’ draft arguments constructed on their iPads, and offered feedback, regarding opening statement theme, logic, use of evidence, and slide aesthetics.

On Monday, Oct. 24, Boothbay Town Manager Dan Bryer, Boothbay Selectmen Chairman Dale Harmon, Vice Chairman Douglas Burnham, selectman Steven Lewis, and former Edgecomb selectman and state representative candidate Stuart Smith presented their views on all three of the debate topics, and fielded questions from a few BRHS faculty and the AP Language students.

From Oct. 26 through Oct. 28, the AP Language students debated the three issues in the BRHS library. This smaller forum is open for all available students and teachers to attend, and to pose audience questions for the debaters. Once again, Rotarians Vic Taylor and Bill Bailey volunteered their time to sit at the judges’ table, hear students arguments, and confer with moderator Mr. Smith Climo and the AP Language instructor Mark Gorey as to the debate needs and strengths of each student. Technology integrator Ms. Barbara Greenstone and BRHS librarian Ms. Jo Haney continue to be instrumental to the success of these debates.

Monday Oct. 31, author, professor, and Boothbay resident Fred Kaplan will presented to students his perspectives on the roundabout, as well as the other election topics.

On Nov. 8, election day, students will participate in a mock election at BRHS.

We thank all community members who have helped make this 2016 election debate project a success

Among the students participating are Kyle Ames, William Berry, Jacob Brewer, Page Brown, Graham Bryer, Evy Case, Summer Chamberlin, Isabelle Curtis, Cameron Crocker, Connor Demmons, Elijah Gudroe, ReAnna Heino, Max Hoecker, Madeleine McLellan, Sydney Meader, Sydney Mercier, Victoria Morin, Kylie Michael, Lillian Sherburne and Nicholas Simpson.