About
Building a culture of open discourse in high schools
We help students talk across political and philosophical divides with rigor, honesty, and respect.
Our mission is to give every high school student a place to work through difficult questions alongside people who see the world differently. Mission of the Open Discourse Collective
Why it matters
Young people are asked to form views on hard public questions, yet they rarely get to test those views against someone who disagrees. Many know the arguments but have had little practice actually hearing them out.
The Collective supports a network of student-run clubs that meet regularly for moderated discussion. Students bring the questions. Student moderators keep the conversation fair. Faculty sponsors help hold it to a high standard.
The result is a room where students can speak honestly, be taken seriously, and practice the civic skills that last well beyond high school.
Our approach
Four principles guide every club
Dialogue, not debate
Meetings are moderated conversations where students respond directly to one another instead of stating a position and moving on.
No viewpoint to promote
We bring students from across the political spectrum into the same room and never advocate for a policy, party, or ideology.
Clear ground rules
Every club adopts written norms for how to disagree. No student should be shut out for what they believe, and our policies are built to prevent it.
Student ownership
Students choose the topics and moderate the discussions. Faculty sponsors provide support while students lead.