Students from a high school engage in a discussion during a debate event, addressing diverse topics and discovering shared perspectives.
The National Speech and Debate Association (NSDA), a century-old organization founded in 1925, continues to play a pivotal role in promoting critical thinking, effective communication, and ethical argumentation skills among students across the United States.
This year, the NSDA hosted its National Speech and Debate Tournament in Des Moines, Iowa, where more than 7,000 middle and high school students from across the nation gathered to engage in intellectual discourse and friendly competition. Among the participants were Macon Smith, a 17-year-old high school junior from an undisclosed location, and Callista Martin, a 16-year-old rising senior from Bainbridge High School in Washington state.
Macon, who specializes in the Lincoln-Douglas Debate, spent two days a week practicing after school for the competition, researching and writing out his arguments. His topics ranged from the benefits of presidential executive orders to the war on terror and the federal Department of Education. Callista, on the other hand, also did not make it to the semifinals, but she has been coaching both her classmates and herself since no teacher has volunteered to lead the debate club at her school.
The debates between Callista and Macon often involved discussing differing political views and argument styles. In this event, two students have 40 minutes to set up their arguments, cross-examine each other, and sway the judges.
The NSDA aims to double its membership in the next five years by recruiting more teachers to lead clubs. Gagnado Diedhiou, a senior from Eastside High School in Greenville, South Carolina, is one of the students who has faced challenges due to a lack of diversity in debate clubs. Gagnado is a member of Equality in Forensics, a national student-led debate organization that provides free resources to schools and students across the country.
Camille Fernandez, a rising junior at West Broward High School in Florida, has also experienced similar challenges, as competitions she has participated in have been dominated by male students. She is a member of Outreach Debate, a student-led group trying to bridge inequities in the debate clubs.
Debaters often tackle topics that are difficult, controversial, and timely. Angad Singh, a student from Bellarmine College Preparatory in California, won the national prize in Original Oratory at the tournament. His speech focused on his Sikh identity and the phrase "thoughts and prayers" commonly repeated by American leaders after a tragedy.
Teachers often dedicate their evenings and weekends to debate events with little supplemental pay or recognition. David Yastremski, an English teacher at Ridge High School in New Jersey, expressed concerns about the scrutiny educators are under, which takes the fun out of teaching. Dennis Philbert, a coach from Central High School in Newark, New Jersey, shared similar sentiments, stating that the pressure and scrutiny educators face can make the joy of teaching disappear.
Despite these challenges, the NSDA and related speech and debate institutions continue to function as platforms for intellectual development and civil engagement. By emphasizing respectful argumentation and evidence-based discussion, such organizations contribute to civil discourse and encourage empathy by helping participants to consider and humanize opposing viewpoints.
In recent times, Wiley College, an HBCU with a celebrated debate team dating back to the 1930s, helped establish the first HBCU National Speech and Debate League in 2018, advancing inclusion and empathy through debate among marginalized communities. This engagement helps students practice listening to opposing views, formulating reasoned responses, and developing an appreciation for complexity in social and political issues, which is increasingly vital in a fracturing society.
References:
[1] National Speech & Debate Association. (n.d.). About Us. Retrieved August 24, 2022, from https://www.speechanddebate.org/about
[2] National Speech & Debate Association. (n.d.). History. Retrieved August 24, 2022, from https://www.speechanddebate.org/history
[3] National Speech & Debate Association. (n.d.). Wiley College. Retrieved August 24, 2022, from https://www.speechanddebate.org/wiley-college
[4] National Speech & Debate Association. (n.d.). HBCU National Speech & Debate League. Retrieved August 24, 2022, from https://www.speechanddebate.org/hbcu-national-speech-debate-league
- Recognizing the challenges faced by students like Gagnado Diedhiou and Camille Fernandez due to a lack of diversity in debate clubs, national student-led organizations such as Equality in Forensics and Outreach Debate aim to provide free resources, bridging inequities in education and self-development.
- Despite the increasing scrutiny on educators like David Yastremski and Dennis Philbert, their dedication to debate events extending into evenings and weekends attests to their commitment to overall education-and-self-development, as well as the general-news and sports sectors.
- Innovative topics tackled in debates, such as Angad Singh's focus on his Sikh identity and the phrase "thoughts and prayers," contribute to the development of empathy and civil engagement among participants, promoting inclusive and respectful discussions in society.
