Solving Global Crises with Civil Discourse

For a brief moment, the fate of world peace rested with a handful of Marksmen. The students from Michele Santosuosso’s “A History of Special Operations” class sat in the Debate Chamber of Old Parkland, a fittingly grand setting for their mock national security meeting to discuss how to respond to a fictional crisis. Each boy played the part of a key decision-maker, such as the Secretary of State and Chairman of the Joint Chiefs. They were presented with a crisis – a credible sighting of high-level terror suspects in a foreign country – and then debated the merits of several possible responses. Each student then made their recommendation to the President of the United States (played by David Fisher, History and Social Sciences Department Chair).  

“The boys must draw on all they’ve learned in class to make factual, fair arguments based on who they are portraying,” said Mrs. Santosuosso. “The Secretary of the Treasury must consider the economic ramifications and the Attorney General must think about the legality of any action. It was impressive to watch each boy slip into their respective role and offer the President advice on a global crisis.”  

The lessons of civil discourse that Marksmen are taught were put into action as the boys debated, disagreed, and processed the information they were given. 

“It was a very hard process to move a conversation forward with a room full of conflicting opinions and ideas,” said Zack Stone ’22. “The exercise gave me a new level of respect for world leaders and the decisions they need to make, because civil discourse is a necessary inefficiency in the process of equitable and prudent decision making.” 

This mock national security meeting is one of several that the boys participate in as they learn the history of special operations and warfare from 1945 through the present day. While this activity is usually done in a classroom, the ability to hold it at Old Parkland’s famed Debate Chamber added extra gravitas to the exercise. The boys were even joined by Harlan Crow, Old Parkland’s owner, parent of two alumni, and husband of St. Mark’s Board President Kathy Crow. One of the purposes of the Debate Chamber is to host and promote healthy civil discourse, a key lesson that St. Mark’s teaches.  

“Mr. Crow is a big proponent of civil discourse and disagreeing without being disagreeable,” said Evan McGowan ’22. “I was able to tell him that debates like these have helped me realize the importance of being able to fervently disagree with someone and get your point across while not humiliating or demeaning your opponent.”