Ducklings - Governance & Ethical Guidelines

1. Introduction

Ducklings is a youth-focused civic engagement platform that fosters structured debate, leadership development, and policy exploration. To ensure that discussions remain educational, constructive, and ethical, Ducklings operates under a governance framework that promotes fairness, accountability, and inclusivity while protecting student privacy and fostering respectful discourse.

2. Governance Structure

A. Tiered Decision-Making Model

  • School-Level Governance – Each participating school hosts structured discussions, electing student representatives.
  • District-Level Governance – Student representatives present and debate topics at the district level.
  • National Assembly (HederaLab Integration) – The top-tier decision-making level where structured debates influence long-term policy simulations.
  • Faculty & Mentor Oversight – Educators guide discussions, ensuring compliance with ethical and academic standards.

B. Transparent & Inclusive Participation

  • Open to all eligible students, ensuring diversity in perspectives and experiences.
  • Publicly available voting and discussion records (with anonymized identifiers for student privacy).
  • Structured opposition engagement ensures all viewpoints are represented fairly.

C. Annual Review & Policy Updates

  • Governance policies are reviewed and refined annually through student and faculty input.
  • Structured feedback loops ensure continuous improvement of ethical standards and engagement models.

3. Ethical Guidelines

A. Privacy & Student Protection

  • All participation is anonymized and compliant with educational data privacy laws (GDPR, PIPEDA, FERPA).
  • No personally identifiable information (PII) is stored or publicly accessible.
  • Student discussions remain within structured, school-approved frameworks to ensure safe and educational participation.

B. Commitment to Unbiased & Fact-Based Discourse

  • Discussions and policy proposals must be fact-checked and research-supported.
  • Faculty oversight ensures accuracy in claims and the use of credible sources.
  • AI-assisted moderation helps flag misinformation while maintaining human review for context.

C. Respectful & Constructive Engagement

  • Zero tolerance for bullying, discrimination, or harassment.
  • Debate structures prioritize constructive argumentation and active listening.
  • All participants are required to follow community guidelines for respectful discourse.

D. Equal Representation & Inclusion

  • Students from all backgrounds and identities are encouraged to participate.
  • Representation metrics are reviewed annually to ensure diversity in leadership.
  • Structured affirmative engagement strategies ensure underrepresented voices are heard.

4. Moderation & Dispute Resolution

A. Multi-Tiered Moderation System

  1. Automated Content Monitoring – AI flags potential rule violations.
  2. Student Peer Moderation – Elected moderators review flagged discussions.
  3. Faculty & Mentor Oversight – Final decision-making for complex cases.
  4. Appeals Process – Structured dispute resolution to ensure fairness in moderation actions.

B. Structured Debate & Conflict Resolution

  • All debates follow a formalized, structured approach to ensure fairness.
  • Conflict resolution training is provided to student moderators and leaders.
  • Major disputes are escalated to faculty or district-level governance panels.

5. Integration with Canuckduck Ecosystem

  • Students can transition from Ducklings to full participation in Consensus upon reaching voting age.
  • HederaLab provides simulated real-world policy trials, allowing students to see the impact of their decisions.
  • Regional student policy proposals with 85% approval in Ducklings are made visible in Consensus, ensuring youth voices influence civic decisions.

6. Enforcement & Continuous Improvement

  • Violations of governance and ethical guidelines result in tiered enforcement actions, from warnings to participation restrictions.
  • Guidelines are subject to an annual student and faculty review, allowing structured updates to reflect the evolving needs of participants.
  • Ducklings is designed to be a continuously evolving, youth-driven engagement platform that reflects best practices in civic education and ethical debate.

7. Conclusion

Ducklings ensures that youth civic engagement remains educational, fair, and impactful by upholding privacy, integrity, and inclusivity. By fostering structured debate, student leadership, and real-world policy simulations, Ducklings prepares the next generation for meaningful civic participation.

For further details or governance participation, contact Canuckduck Research Corporation.