Learning how to argue in debate teams could give Howard County students a competitive edge over other college applicants.
The school system recently created a partnership with Capitol Debate, an Ellicott City nonprofit that helps high schoolers develop public speaking and persuasion skills through debate programs.
“Colleges view debate highly and many offer debate scholarships. … A lot of our highly educated students were not in those pools to receive scholarships, and now they have a shot at major colleges,” said Ron Bratt, founder and chief executive officer of Capitol Debate, which started in February 2006.
Seventy colleges nationwide offer an estimated $1 million in annual scholarships to students participating in debate leagues, said Les Lynn, executive director of the National Association of Urban Debate Leagues in Chicago.
Capitol Debate has created debate teams in Centennial, Glenelg and Reservoir high schools. Wilde Lake High School had the only pre-existing debate program, which the school?s speech coach, Kelli Midgley-Biggs, started more than 10 years ago. Capitol Debate used it as a model.
The debate programs at Centennial, Glenelg and Reservoir attracted about 30 students who compete statewide once a month against 20 to 30 schools. The debaters atthe varsity level compete nationally against 200 schools.
The nonprofit raises $5,000 in travel expenses for group national competitions and $250 per student for regional competitions. Bratt said he hopes the school system will budget for the competitions.
Capitol Debate plans to start teams at all of the county?s high schools in four years.
“We are using Howard County as our pilot for spreading debate across the state and eventually across the country,” Bratt said.
The debate teams meet after school and are curriculum-based, said Mary Schiller, manager of the Howard County Public Schools Partnership Office.
Bratt said he wants to expand the debate program in the county?s 19 middle schools. The gifted and talented program teachers meet with their classes of 20 to 30 students each week, and Bratt said he wants to use that time to train them in debate.
Training the future politicians and lawyers won?t just prepare them for college, Bratt said. Engaging in policy debate can boost teenage self-esteem and confidence.
Debate symposium
» Middle and high school teachers as well as debate team coaches may learn argument methods, speech techniques and research skills to sharpen students? debating skills.
» The event will be held from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. July 19 at East Columbia Branch Library on Cradlerock Way in Columbia. For more information, call 410-313-7700.
FAST FACT
» Between 77 percent and 91 percent of debate league members complete a four-year college plan, said Les Lynn, executive director of the National Association of Urban Debate Leagues in Chicago.
