Running a Middle School Debate League: What's it like?

 

   

So, we've been pretty busy this summer at the MSPDP. We've run several residential student programs (with more than 100 participants in conferences), gotten some grant money for an upcoming program expansion in Los Angeles, and filmed a number of videos. Here's one of them. Three league presidents in the Middle School Public Debate Program (MSPDP) discuss what it's like to manage a middle school debate league. Featuring Lee Harris, from St. Mark's School of Upland, Greg Paulk, from Desert Springs Middle School, and Katie Ward, from Pasadena Polytechnic. Moderated by me, MSPDP Director Kate Shuster.

Oh, and I've also moved the blog to Typepad. Please update your bookmark, if you've got one, to reflect my new address: http://teachingdebate.typepad.com/.

Comments

[Aileen Pacetti]

Thank you very much for this video. It boosted my confidence about coaching immensely.

I am in my third year of teaching at a small South Austin private school where there is lots of flexibility in courses and curriculum. It's a wonderful thing, really. But I was caught off guard at the beginning of the summer when I told that I would be teaching a junior high and high school class called "Integrated Logic, Rhetoric, Grammar, Composition, and Latin. Oh and why don't you throw in some debate?"

I have a background in classical music and I received my degree in English, so all this sounded a bit overwhelming to me, and, in fact, I'm still working out how to structure the class. I am also not one to be ok with half-heartedly doing anything, let alone teach. But your blog has been a wonderful resource. I'm asking the administration if we can order your books for class, and this video, in particular, was quite comforting.

So thank you, again. I'm sure I'll be perusing the site for more inspiration.

[Aileen Pacetti]

...when I *was* told...

[Kate Shuster]

Hi Aileen,

I'm glad to hear that you found the video comforting. Sometimes I feel like our motto should be: "Debate: It's not rocket science," for all we try to do and demystify the practice of debating.

Check back soon - I'll be posting more videos over the course of the month.

Best,

Kate