Group B

Subject: We must make school uniform.


Moderator: Allie

Agree side: Carol
                   Hanna
                   Kofy

Disagree side: Finnian
                       Lucus


Note: This topic is about elementary school, junior high school, and high school. Now, students go to school in plain clothes. If they make a law, students must buy school uniform by themselves. The money will not come from citizen's tax.


Opinions of agree side:


・Carol
     She cited three things as a merit of school uniform: we can recognize which school the student attend, and students can wear school uniform in formal occasion.
     About cost, she thinks it is not hard for them to buy because they have to buy only when they enter school.

・Hanna
     She said it was a merit of school uniform that students don't have to decide what they wear in the morning.
     She thinks if students wear school uniform, they can be closer with their friends and teachers.

・Kofy
     She said it was a merit of school uniform that students don't have to decide what they wear in the morning, too.


Opinions of disagree side:


・Finnian
     She said that she wants not to wear skirt at school and some students want not to do so.
     She said it was a demerit of school uniform that they can't wash it every day.

・Lucus
     He worried about that students must buy it by themselves.
     At last of this discussion, suggested school badge.


Conclusion: We make the school badge and don't make school uniform.


I think this discussion was so good because they could reach conclusion that both of sides agree with. I know it is so difficult. But sometimes I couldn't hear what they said.

Group C

Subject: We must introduce rental system of textbooks instead of free of charge.


Moderator: Ashley

Agree side: Sophie
                   Sara

Disagree side: Lucy
                       Emily
                       Isabela


Note: This topic is about elementary schools and junior high schools. And now, textbooks are free and covered by tax.


Opinions of agree side:


・Sophie
     She is agree because of money. If we introduce the system, the tax that our should pay will be decreased.
     She argued that if we introduce the system, we can use the money, we pay for textbooks now, for other things.

・Sara
     She is agree because of money. According to her opinion, the cost for textbooks is huge for school. If we introduce the system, students can get higher quality textbooks, and they will not leave textbooks at home.
     She thinks students should take notes on their notebooks in detail. So they shouldn't be note in their textbooks because of the space.
     She answered to audience's question: when the textbooks are revised, teacher should put a paper wrote what is changed in textbook.
     The main purpose of the system is to make students concentrate on studying.

・Two of them
     They decided how to borrow textbooks. Teachers distribute textbooks to students when a class begin. Elementary school students can't take it home, but 5 and 6 graders can take it home during the test period. Junior high school students can take it home.


Opinions of disagree side:


・Lucy
     She wondered that students can't underline important words in textbooks, and they can't study at home because they can't take textbooks home.

・Emily
     She wondered that students can't take notes in textbooks.
     She thinks the high cost of textbooks is important for students.

・Isabela
     She thinks new textbook makes students want to study hard.


Conclusion: We give elementary school students trial period. If rental system is good for them, we change the law.


I want to know opinions of disagree side more. I think if they have decided how to borrow before the discussion, three members of disagree side could say more opinion. But I could understand the merit of the system, and the conclusion was so good.

Group D

Subject: Teachers shouldn't give any homework to students.


Moderator: Rie

Agree side: Anna
                    Rachel

Disagree side: Alex
                        Kate


Opinions of agree side:


・Anna
     If students don't have to do homework, they can spend time more effectively. For example, they can study what they couldn't understand in class. And, they can go to bed earlier, so they will not fall asleep in class. 
     Studying by themselves at home is better than doing homework because they can concentrate on what they couldn't understand in class.

・Rachel
     They can have more free time. She thinks it is important for them. They can play sports, and play with their friends.
     Their academic ability is different, so homework is not good for them.


Opinions of disagree side:


・Kate
     She worries about that they will not do study at home.
     She thinks studying is most important thing for them.

・Alex
     She has a son. She thinks parents can know what their children study at school by homework.
     She worries about that they will play a game if they aren't given any homework.


Opinions and questions of audiences:


・What grade is the students in?
・Is the topic a recommendation or a rule?
     → The topic is about high school students and it is a rule.
         Our topic is "Teachers mustn't give any homework to high school students."

・High school students will be able to study by themselves, so homework is not needed for them.
     → Alex and I agreed with the opinion.


Conclusion: High school students mustn't have any assignment because they can study by own.


I think our discussion is not good because we couldn't know each panelists' opinion well and we didn't confirm that each panelists agree with the conclusion. I couldn't say my opinion concisely, so I ate up time that other panelists said their opinion. 

Group B

Subject: We should prohibit students from working part-time jobs.


Moderator: Carol

Agree side: Finnian
                    Hanna
                    Kofy

Disagree side: Lucus
                        Allie


Opinions of agree side:


・Finnian
     Students should concentrate studying. If they want to learn somethings by working, they should do so after graduation.

・Hanna
     The best thing for students is studying. If we they get money, they will not obey their parents.

・Kofy
     Students should study and reading books. Reading books makes them more sensitive.


Opinions of disagree side:


・Lucus
     He doesn't have enough money to go to school. If we prohibit, some students can't go to school.

・Allie
     Students can learn a lot of things by working, such as importance of money.


Carol: What do you think about that some students can't go to school without working. (to agree side)
Finnian: Ordinary family have enough money to go to school. Most of students will spends money for hanging out with their friends.
Lucus: Their parents should manage their earned money.

Kofy: Their studying time will get shorter.
Lucus: The studying time of students belonging club is short, too. Students can spend time efficiently.

Hanna: What is the purpose of working part-time jobs? (to agree side)
Allie: The purpose is not only earning money.

Hanna: Can they go to school by working part-time jobs? (to Lucus)
Lucus: They can help their parents by it.

Carol: What do you think about that their studying time will get shorter? (to disagree side)
Allie: They can learn how to concentrate by working. They can concentrate studying, even if their studying time will get shorter.
Kofy: They can't study well. They may be able not to understand completely.
Allie: They can ask their teacher during the break.
Finnian: They may doze during the class. During the break, they will not study, because they are tired.

Audience: Government helps students who can't go to school.
Carol: No.

Audience: We can't lump junior high school students and high school students together.
Kofy: We want to focus on junior high school students.

Hanna: I think we should make law about type of jobs and age.

Carol: At first, let's discuss about type of jobs.
Allie: I think jobs before going to school is good.
Finnian: They should get home by ten.

Carol: Next, let's discuss about age.
Allie: All of junior high school students is good.

Carol: What do you think about type of jobs?
Finnian: It is difficult to make law about type of jobs, so every schools should decide.
Audience: I think it is good to make it club activity. School can control.
Finnian: It is good that schools give students choices.
Lucus: It is good to have students get permission from school or their parents.


Conclusion: Every junior high school students can work part-time jobs. Students have to get permission from school or their parents. Every schools make club or give students choices. The part-time jobs that they can work are before going to school or they can get home by ten.


I think the idea that school make club or giving choices is so good. In my opinion, we shouldn't prohibit students from working part-time jobs, because some students can't go to school. But working part-time jobs have some demerit, so opinions of agree side are understandable.

Group C

Subject: Can we submit a bid to host the Olympics?


Moderator: Sara Cooper

Agree side: Emily Thoma
                 Isabela Horan
                 Lucy Walter

Disagree side: Sophie Dawson
                     Ashley Turner


Opinions of agree side:


・Emily
     If we hold the Olympics in Apollon, many people will come to Apollon. Holding it has many benefit. It is good opportunity to advertise Apollon.

・Isabera
     She would like to join the Olympics someday as a cheerleader. If we hold it in our country, our motivation will be raised.

・Lucy
     It has good economic effect. We can improve Apollon's image.



Opinions of disagree side:


・Sophie
     We don't have enough money and place.

・Ashley
     It needs money and place for athletes' quarters and stadium.



Sara: What do you think about benefit that agree side said? (to disagree side)
Ashley: It has benefit. But, Montreal Olympics get into the red. Apollon Olympics may go into the red.
Emily: We have money. It is not such a big issue.
Sophie: But we don't have stadium. It needs much money to build it.
Isabera: After Olympics, we can use it in many ways.
Ashley: Apollon is not big. We don't have enough place. It is difficult to holding Olympics in Apollon.


Sara: It needs much money. How can we cover? (to agree side)
Emily: We can keep to a minimum.
Sophie: How can we cover money to build stadium.
Emily: I think it is not so huge.
Ashley: It needs athletes' quarters. It needs much money for it, too.


Audience: I want to know concrete plan about how to cover.
Isabera: For example, we can use tax.


Lucy: Holding Olympics is good for international exchange. If we can hold, we should limit games.
Isabera: I think the World Cup is good.
Sophie: It needs 400 million dollars to build stadium.
Audience: Holding the World Cup needs much money, too.


Audience: I think marathon race is good. Runners can enjoy beautiful view.
Sophie: It don't need place, so I agree with her idea.
Sara: I think it is good sport event for Apollon. Olympics is too large scale for Apollon.
Disagree side: I agree with smaller scale sport event.
Isabera: I think it is good to hold marathon race as an event of Sunflower Festival.



Conclusion: We hold marathon race as an event of Sunflower Festival.



I think their discussion was good, because I could understand why agree side wanted to hold Olympics in Apollon. At first, I couldn't understand that, but in the middle, I could understand well. If we hold Olympics in Apollon, we can have international exchange, but we can have it also by holding other sport event. I think it was so good opinion.

Group D

Subject: Should we introduce sales tax system?

Moderator: Kate Hail

Agree side: Anna Jones

                    Alex Bell

                   

Disagree side: Rie Chein

                         Rachel Williams

                         Amy Green

Opinions of agree side:

・Anna

     Last year, we decided that we hold sunflower festival, make calendar, and plant sunfrower along the street to make Apollon famous. Government should pay a lot of money for these plans. They need a lot of money. So we should pay more taxes. And sales tax system is good because government can get much money easily.

・Alex

     Goverment can use money for education. It is helpful for us. So, we should pay sales tax.

Opinions of disagree side:

・Rie

     If we introduce the system, low income people must pay a lot of money, but high income people must pay less. And most people will come not to buy something. Goverment's income will less. He think income tax system is better.

・Rachel

     The system is hard for low income people.

・Amy

     People will come not to buy something.

Kate: What do you think about low income people? (to Anna)

Anna: The system is hard for them. So, we should introduce reduced tax rate for them.

Rachel: Clerk can't know who is low income people. (to Anna)

Rie: Sales tax system is not fair, but income tax system is fair. So, income tax system is better. (to agree side)

Anna: Sales tax system is better because government can get much money easily.

Amy: Our income dosen't change, but must we pay more tax? (to agree side)

Anna: We have a lot of national debts and plans, so we must pay more tax.

Rachel: Tourists will come not to Apollon. (to agree side)

Anna: We can make tax-free system or tax-free shops.

Audience: What kind of tax system does Apollon have?

Panelist: Apollon has other system but sales tax system and income tax system.

Audience: How much sales tax rate? (to agree side)

Alex: 3%.

Anna: If the rate is high, people will not agree. So, at first, it should be low, such as 3%.

Audience: How can clerk kow who is low income people? (to Anna)

Anna: Goverment should give something showing he/she is low income people, such as a paper. By it, clerk can know.

Rachel: Some people may move to another countly. (to agree side)

Anna: We must pay tax for Apollon. It is our duty.

Agree side: We think income tax system is not fair. (to Rie)

Conclusion: We can't decide which is better, sales tax system or income tax system. If we introduce sales tax system, the rate is 3%.

We couldn't come to a conclusion. I think we must find fair tax system, but it was so difficult. Our thought about fair was different, so we couldn't conculude. I think we should have ask audiences opinion more. It might be helpful for us.

Group A

Subject: Let’s make point-system in Apollon

Moderator: Belle Waterfall

Panelists: Angelina Miller

                 Mac Jason

                 Laura Addy

                 Tama Homer

                 Jack Bauer

Discussion 1: How can we collect points?

・Jack

     → tour guide volunteer and entrants for the photo contest

・Tama

     → Sunflower Festival staff

・Mac

     → buying goods made in Apollon

・Angelina

     → recycle

Discussion 2: Where can we use them?

・Jack

     → public transportation fee and charges for public service

・Mac

     → shopping center

            Jack: It is difficult for government to control.

            Mac: Only shop want to do should install the system.

・Angelina

     → It is not good to use the points for amusement or hobby.

            Laura: If we can use the points for such things, many people will want them.

Questions by audience:

・1 point = 1 apollon?

     → Yes.

・If we can get points by volunteer, it is not volunteer.

Conclusion: We want to make point-system.

I think it is good that they told us a lot of information. And we had enough time to talk with other audiences. Angelina wrote ideas on white board, so I could understand what they discussed about easily.