BY STORMIE PERRY
Debate is a great activity that can increase your knowledge of current events and your communication skills. Many students have already learned much from being involved in debate, and many more have taken the step and joined this year.
This year there are two debate clubs or classes offered to homeschoolers. One club is in Cabot and is taught by Laura Clark, and this club has sixteen students. The other class is in Little Rock with seventeen students, and is taught by Lisa Alsop, assisted by Angela Childress. Laura Clark has a degree in Speech and English Literature from the University of South Florida, has been teaching homeschool debate and speech for seven years, and is a member of the NCFCA. Mrs. Clark's main focus is teaching the students to learn how to communicate and speak well. She says, "I don’t care if they come home with a trophy. I encourage competition, but competition is not the goal, the skills are the goal." Lisa Alsop is the teacher for the Little Rock group. She has a lot of experience in debate and the NCFCA.
Debate is where two students come together in a controlled forum to dicuss or debate a particular topic, or resolution. The resolution is chosen by the NCFCA every year. One student will present a case that they have written which includes evidence they have researched, to prove and affirm that the resolution is right. This person is called the affirmative speaker. The other student, the negative speaker, will present a speech that negates the resolution. They will both "argue" or debate each other on the issue, or resolution. This year's resolution is "When in conflict, idealism ought to be valued over pragmatism."
This year the debate clubs will have a debate tournament here in Arkansas and one in Memphis. Some students will also go to Texas for debate tournaments. Debate classes consist of a two hour class and research homework, which usually takes about five hours a week. Once a student reaches 120 hours, he or she will receive one full credit for either Public Speaking, Logic, or English Composition. Most students use this opportunity to receive their Public Speaking credit.
Debate is a great activity to get involved with if you love to argue, because it will help you to know current events, communicate your values and views, and to defend them as well.
