Bay City Tribune

A group of sixth graders from Bay City Junior High held a debate before Mayor Richard Knapik and a group of parents and students at City Hall on Thursday, Oct. 22.

Katie Aldredge, a sixth-grade science teacher at BCJH, gave her students the assignment to present debate-style arguments on different forms of energy.

She then selected the top classroom presentation groups to attend the event.

Three groups, representing fossil fuels, nuclear energy and alternative energy, debated on which form of energy is the best.

Two students from each group spoke to the assembly, defining their chosen energy type and discussing its advantages and disadvantage.

"Nuclear energy is found at nuclear energy plants. It is used to power homes like ours," said Jackson Kelly, a sixth-grade student.

After the arguments where made, the mayor couldn't choose between the presentations and declared the debate a tie.

"I want to congratulate all of you on your research. You all did a great job," said Knapik. "Our future is up to all of you. Soon one of you may be sitting up here (on the city council) or in the courthouse or the governor's mansion."

Knapik went on to state that nuclear energy was very important to our community, but that there are a lot of possibilities when it comes to energy.

He congratulated the students on their hard work and thanked the parents for coming out to support them.