10 Commandments (Students)
Please read these guidelines for participation by students and contact us with any questions.
- Respect: The success of the debate depends on mutual respect. You can disagree strongly, but you must do so with love and respect. Speak in a language that everyone can understand, and if necessary help provide translations. This respect extends to those around you: teachers, speakers, any anyone you encounter during the program. Listen quietly when others are talking.
- Attendance: Keep your commitments and come on time. Alert us immediately if you are sick, etc.
- No plagiarism: Copying someone else’s words, or presenting someone else’s ideas as your own, is unacceptable.
- Be curious: Come prepared to learn. None of us has all the answers. When guest speakers take questions, we want to see every hand in the air.
- Be forgiving: There are students from many different communities and walks of life at Debate for Peace. If someone says something that you find upsetting, don’t get angry—try to talk to them about it and explain why you found it upsetting. Make it a learning moment.
- Be safe and observant: Be observant: Follow safety guidelines and common sense at all times. In transit (walking, driving, waiting for buses/trains) is not the time for games. Obey instructions from any hosts or Debate for Peace staff. Pay attention to how others are, and alert us if anyone needs help.
- Stay together: From the moment you are at a Debate for Peace event, you have joined a group. Stay with the group at all times. If you need to leave for any reason, talk to DfP staff first.
- Act: Take the tools, information and experiences that you gain through Debate for Peace and use it shape the world around you. It is up to you to impact on your friends, family, neighbors, classmates, and anyone you meet. Only you can help create, change and inspire as we make a better future together.
- Dress appropriately: Dress for the occasion, whether it’s an event at a diplomatic or religious venue, or one which requires a lot of walking and running around.
- Act appropriately: Not all situations call for the same behavior. There are times when you will need to behave more serious, times when you need to be quieter, times you’ll need to speak up more, and times to be social. Your behavior should match the occasion, respect the forum and environment, and inspire those around you.
Debate for Peace 