December 2025 Newsletter: Middle School Results, Strategy Tips & 2026 Invitations

Welcome to the December Newsletter!

As we move into the Senior season, here is a tip for teams looking to improve their scores:

While it is not necessary to be an expert in ethical theories, and we don't want teams to name-drop philosophers, we do think that understanding the logical requirements of different frameworks is vital. A common issue judges see is a team stating they are using a Deontological framework (based on moral duties and rules), but then arguing entirely using Consequentialist logic (focusing solely on the positive or negative impacts of an action), or vice versa.

To make a really consistent argument, your justification must match your framework.

We would be pleased to offer your school training, even in person at your school (we have coaches all over the world), but please feel free to access our free class package here: https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/1nS4wFvGmo-B0adYJfRLkstplzWHfmPI3

Celebrating the Middle School Olympiad results

We want to say a huge thank you to everyone who joined the 2025 Pan Atlantic Middle School Ethics Olympiad. This was our first-ever Middle School Olympiad, and it was incredible to see such strong international representation from the United States, the United Kingdom (England and Scotland), Canada, and Mexico.

Students showed real collaboration, sharp ethical reasoning, and generous engagement across every round.

Top 8 Teams

• Harvard-Westlake (USA)

• Point Grey Green (Canada)

• Elgin Academy (Scotland, UK)

• De Lisle College (England, UK)

• Chestwood Blue (Canada)

• Arizona College (USA)

• Point Grey Red (Canada)

• Churchill (Mexico)

Our top three teams (Harvard-Westlake, Point Grey Green, and Elgin Academy) qualify for the Middle School International Ethics Olympiad in Australia.

Honourable Mentions

Recognized by at least one judge for standout performance in a round: Harvard-Westlake, De Lisle College, Arizona College, and Churchill.

Thank you again for making this inaugural event such a thoughtful, energetic, and inspiring competition. We look forward to seeing many of you again soon.

Spring TKEthics Invitational

We are very excited for our upcoming Spring TKEthics Invitational. The 2026 case set is arguably one of our best yet. This year, teams will discuss the ethics of the TV show Severance (Case 7), the morality of Paid Surrogacy (Case 1), and the complexities of Research Behind a Paywall (Case 8).

You can register here: https://www.tkethics.org/tournaments

2026 Senior Ethics Olympiads

Our series of Senior Ethics Olympiads are all open for early bird registration. These are the official qualifying events for the 2026 International Final hosted in Australia.

• Senior European Ethics Olympiad: Thursday, March 26, 2026. Early Bird Deadline: January 26, 2026

• Senior USA + Central + South American Ethics Olympiad: Saturday, April 4, 2026. Early Bird Deadline: February 4, 2026

• Senior Canadian Ethics Olympiad: Saturday, April 11, 2026. Early Bird Deadline: February 11, 2026

You can view the full calendar and register here: https://www.modusponensinstitute.com/event-calendar

US Ethics Bowl Training

If you are preparing to attend the National High School Ethics Bowl series in the US, we can also come and offer specific training for that too. If you are looking for that competitive edge before regionals or nationals, just get in touch to discuss options.

Spreading the Word

Finally, we implore you to reach out to any member of your community who may be keen on introducing their schools to the Olympiad or TKEthics Invitational.

We look forward to a great season ahead!

Zach and Archie MPI