Debate clubs that reward changing your mind

The problem: most debate formats reward winning, so students learn to defend a position at all costs and to treat changing their mind as losing.

The proposal: a club format that scores intellectual humility as well as argument. In each round, students must first summarise the opposing case to the other side's satisfaction. At the end, judges award points for the best question asked, for the most honest concession, and for a changed view, explained. Intellectual humility is the recognition that one's beliefs might be mistaken, and a willingness to revise them. The Socratic method, learning by questioning, is a model.

Who acts: schools, universities and community groups adopt the format; coaches model it themselves.

Costs and trade-offs: it needs little money, but a culture shift. Students who are used to competition may find it uncomfortable, and judges must be trained to reward honesty over performance.

First step: run one tournament with the new scoring and ask participants what they would do differently next time.