URBAN DEBATE
Winter 2012
Greetings!
Urban debate is growing! This year our urban debate leagues are reporting record-breaking participation at their tournaments. Congratulations to the leagues in Boston, Dallas, and Nashville. In the last few months, these leagues have added more than 250 high school students to the urban debate network. Today, 3,000 high school students compete in urban debate leagues in nineteen cities. Our leagues are also teaching debate to more than 900 middle school students. You can read more about our leagues and their work in "Around the Leagues."
Here at the NAUDL we believe that urban debate must continue to grow. Under our new strategic plan, our goal is, in the next five years, to triple the number of urban debaters. See the summary and link to Preparing Urban Youth to Lead in the 21st Century. We were reminded why urban debate is so important a few months ago when Dr. Briana Mezuk published her newest study. In her first study, published several years ago, Dr. Mezuk found that urban debate leads to higher grades and test scores and better graduation rates. In her second study, published in October, she found that urban debaters outperformed non-debaters, even after controlling for the self-selection bias. See the article "Urban Debaters Better Prepared for College" for a link to the complete study.
Every year we celebrate urban debate in April at our Annual Dinner and National Championship Tournament. The NAUDL staff is busy preparing for the 2012 Urban Debate National Championship weekend in Washington, D.C. April 12-15th. We look forward to hosting urban debate's top debaters and their coaches. We hope you will join us in April in Washington D.C.
2012 Urban Debate National Championship Urban debate champions and coaches, mark your calendars for the 2012 Urban Debate National Championship tournament weekend. This year's tournament will take place April 14-15th at Georgetown University in Washington, D.C. The tournament kicks off Thursday, April 12th, with the NAUDL Annual Dinner at the Four Seasons Hotel with keynote speaker Arne Duncan, U.S. Secretary of Education and NAUDL award recipient Charles F. Bolden, Jr. (Major General, USMC Ret.) and NASA Administrator. Friday morning we present The Great Space Debate at the Smithsonian's National Air and Space Museum, a public urban debate featuring two of the nation's top urban debate teams, who will debate the 2012 resolution in front of a distinguished panel of judges. Georgetown University hosts the National Championship tournament which begins at 8:00 a.m. Saturday morning, with the final round scheduled for 3:00 p.m. on Sunday. Watch the NAUDL home page for all the latest information for debaters, coaches, league directors, sponsors and guests. Preparing Urban Youth to Lead in the 21st Century - The NAUDL Strategic Plan
At its fall board meeting, the NAUDL Governing Board approved the 2012-2016 strategic plan. The plan lays out organizational strategies and tactics in support of the NAUDL's single primary goal: to triple the number of students participating in competitive policy debate in urban debate leagues. NAUDL Executive Director Linda Listrom shared details of the plan to a national audience via a webinar on December 1st. Links to the webinar and supporting materials are available on the NAUDL home page at www. urbandebate.org. |
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Urban Debaters Better Prepared for College than Their Peers
Urban students who participate in a competitive policy debate program are more likely to graduate from high school and achieve college-readiness benchmarks than their non-debating peers. The findings are featured in the report "Impact of participating in a policy debate program on academic achievement: Evidence from the Chicago Urban Debate League"published in Education Research and Reviews (September 2011).
The study tracked, over a ten-year period, the academic performance of debaters in the Chicago Debate League. Two key findings from the new report show that 90% of the students who debated graduated, as compared to 75% of comparable students and also that participation in debate is associated with an increased likelihood of meeting college-readiness indicators by two metrics: ACT scores and cumulative GPA. Earlier analysis of the study results showed ACT scores were notably higher in English and reading. In this new report, Dr. Mezuk and team show that debaters were more likely to achieve college-readiness benchmarks in all four ACT subject areas: reading, English, math and science - evidence that debate, and the skills it hones, helps students achieve better overall learning outcomes in all subject areas than their non-debating peers.
Around the Leagues
Bay Area
The Bay Area Urban Debate League has launched a public debate program, the Leading with Debate Fellowship (LDF). Every week, LDF members meet and work with BAUDL staff and volunteers on skill-building and deepening knowledge about the political systems around them. By demonstrating their skills in public debates, the LDF hopes to build participation and recruit support for urban debate through increased exposure to local communities and through the media.
Boston
The Boston Debate League continues its strong growth with more than 500 students having debated in at least one tournament in the first half of the 2011-2012 schol year, up from 279 at the same time last year. In its first year, the middle school league averages 22 students per team and has added a JV division. The BDL's Evidence Based Argumentation (EBA) initiative continues to grow and teachers and administrators report that EBA improves academic culture in the school and creates more student-centered classrooms.
Chicago
Top debaters from 12 Chicago high schools competed in the 2011 Performance Trust Public Debates on the U.S. Economy on December 9th and 10th, 2011. The tournament, co-sponsored by Performance Trust Capital Partners and Attucks Asset Management, featured round-robin debates on two resolutions: (1) the United States is now on an irreversible course of long-term economic decline; and (2) the United States federal government should invest substantial spending in a new stimulus program. The top two teams squared off in the Championship Debate, while third and fourth place were determined through the Runner-up Debate.
Dallas
With 100% of Dallas Urban Debate Alliance (UDA) seniors graduating and going to college last school year, the Dallas Independent School District asked the Dallas UDA to expand their program to reach more students. With its high school expansion and new robust middle school league, the Dallas UDA has nearly tripled the number of schools with active debate teams. Only half way through the season, there are already nearly triple the number of students participating in urban debate in Dallas.
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| Dean Catherine E. Smith talks with Denver Urban Debaters at the University of Denver Sturm College of Law in 2011 |
Denver
Fifty Denver Urban Debate League juniors and seniors participated in the second annual Upperclassman Reception at DU Sturm College of Law on January 17, 2012. The capstone event was a lecture with famed civil rights attorney Morris Dees. The students met with college debate coaches and undergraduate admissions representatives and were able to participate in law classes alongside first year law students.
Manual High School senior and urban debater Teague Harrison was awarded a $10,000 Student of Integrity scholarship from the Denver Better Business Bureau.
Houston
A report published by the Houston Independent School District's Department of Research and Accountability shows that Houston Urban Debate League programming increases students' grades in core courses and improves attendance rates while decreasing incidents of discipline problems. This report demonstrates that at-risk students, those served by HUDL, gain significant academic and socio-emotional benefits from participating in debate. This report confirms what debate supporters have known all along: debate changes students' lives. The Houston League also has a 99.6% graduation rate, demonstrating the important value that debate brings to students.
Nashville
In its second year of programming, Nashville Debate has hosted four tournaments during the Fall semester, including a season-opener in August that had as many participants as competed during the entire 2010-2011 school year! Nashville Debate also has an active group of volunteers who work with the program. Participating students are coached and judged by top attorneys, business people and educators in Nashville. Debaters and coaches benefit from the expertise provided by former debaters. These individuals serve as mentors to the growing ranks of new judges, supporting them as they navigate the world of policy debate.
New York
Metropolitan Corporate Academy seniors Stephon Adams & Devonte Escoffery qualified for the 2011 Tournament of Champions. Seniors Damiyr Davis and Miguel Feliciano (Beacon School) also qualified for the Tournament and were the top seed after preliminary rounds (undefeated at 7-0). Davis also became the first African American to win the Top Speaker at the Tournament. Two NYCUDL middle school teams also made history by breaking into quarterfinals at the 2011 National Junior Forensic League Championship and Petergaye Laine of the Bronx School for Law took Third Place Best Speaker in the nation.
Urban Debate in the News
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BAUDL 2010 Alum Rashid Campbell |
Bay Area Urban Debate League - The Norman Transcript, Urban Experiences Give Debaters Unique Insight - BAUDL alum Rashid Campbell and his Oklahoma University debate partner Dominique Baker discuss their debate experiences and styles and their goal to be the first black team to win the NDT title. Campbell speaks proudly of his time in the BAUDL.
Boston Debate League - Jamaica Plain Patch, You Learn How to Fight with Your Words - Coverage of a Boston Debate League middle school tournament that includes quotes from students as well as volunteer judges, this article shows how urban debate positively impacts the local community in Jamaica Plain.
Detroit Urban Debate League - WXYZ ABC Channel 7, Program Director's Only Birthday Wish is to Help Student Debaters - DUDL Executive Director Holly Reiss spread the news of her birthday wish fundraising campaign with help from the Detroit Channel 7 evening news! The story profiles debaters from the Detroit League and the benefits of debate.
Minnesota Urban Debate League - KARE11, Fast Talkers Rule in High School Debate - Fast talk and the academic benefits of urban debate were highlighted in a recent television news story on the Minnesota Urban Debate League. Exec Director Amy Cram Helwich proudly notes that for the last three years, MUDL debaters achieved a 100% high school graduation rate, and 100% acceptance to college.
Special Thanks to Our Supporters
Jennifer Wade for hosting a reception in her home for NAUDL Executive Director Linda Listrom providing an opportunity to introduce the NAUDL's work.
Jeff Pash for hosting a breakfast in New York for NAUDL Executive Director Linda Listrom to share information about the NAUDL Strategic Plan with supporters and friends.
Matt Nichols and the New York members of the NAUDL's Young Professionals Leadership Boardfor soliciting support for the New York City Urban Debate League.
We owe our success and achievements to all the generous supporters of urban debate across the country! Thank you!
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