From http://www.commercialappeal.com/news/2008/sep/21/area-students-match-wits-in-verbal-joust/
Memphis school system brings back scholastic debate contest
By Nevin Batiwalla (Contact), Memphis Commercial Appeal
Sunday, September 21, 2008
Normally weekends mean hanging out together and watching TV for Denise Richard and Markettia Morrison.
But on Saturday, it was all about U.S energy policy as the two Trezevant High School freshmen matched wits and traded verbal jabs with teams from other Memphis City Schools in the district's first scholastic debate in almost 40 years.
"We need this, you know, to keep us out of the streets and keep us from doing things we might regret later on in life ... or in a couple of days," Richard said as she leaned against a locker waiting for the fourth round of debates to begin.
Almost 100 students from 14 schools were scattered across Overton High to compete in the debate tournament, set up by the Memphis Urban Debate League. The 49 two-person teams argued whether the federal government should substantially increase alternative energy incentives.
The event was the largest first tournament in the history of the Urban Debate League, said Les Lynn, a consultant with the National Association for Urban Debate Leagues.
The young debaters have been gearing up for Saturday since spring. Over the summer students attended a four-day workshop, and they have been practicing five hours a week after school since the semester started. There will be five more debate tournaments throughout the year culminating with a city championship tournament in late February.
The league's director, Sarah Meltzer, said the program helps students succeed by improving reading comprehension and teaching students how to think critically.
"What debate does is, it not only gives them a greater opportunity to get into college; it gives them the groundwork to succeed once they get there," said Meltzer, who debated when she was in high school in Dallas.
Richard said she has learned a lot from hearing both sides of the argument. She said she joined the league because she has big plans for when she goes off to college.
"I'm doing it to sharpen up my lawyer skills," she said.
For more information about the program, visit Memphis Urban Debate League at memphis debate.org
With assistance from the National Association for Urban Debate Leagues (NAUDL), the endorsement and strong institutional support of the Memphis City School’s Board of Education and the support of a group of local business professionals who believe strongly in the mission, high school debate returned to the Memphis City Schools this fall. The Memphis City Schools committed to and delivered on initiating the Memphis Urban Debate League this fall in 15 MCS high schools, involving 30 teachers and more than 200 MCS high school students.
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