To Debate or Not to Debate – Is That the Question?
By Roland Burdett and Donna Carletta

Debating, also known as forensics is an academic form of study that enhances students presentation skills. It is not only a fun activity, but it’s an excellent opportunity for students to meet people and build great relationships that last a lifetime; make them critical thinkers, better speakers and overall better students.

Debating is an activity that can benefit your child in the long run by helping them prepare for a great career and achieve success in many other areas of life. Communications is an important part of life that can lead to extraordinary personal and professional achievements. Employers appreciate and hire people who have the ability to communicate well. Participating in high school or college debate tournaments would make your child’s future resume stand out among the others and teach them how to carry themselves in an interview.

In the game of football or any other sport, each player has a specific role to play, but they all have to work together as a team to win the game. Forensics can be viewed as a sport because it requires everyone to work together to create a plan of attack and accomplish a single goal. If your child enjoys talking and always has something to say about almost any topic, a high school or college debating team may just be the thing he or she needs to enhance his or her speaking and presentation skills.

Many famous individuals have participated in forensics including the following:

• Mel Allen (Radio Broadcaster)
• John Laroquette (former star of Night Court)
• Arsenio Hall (Comedian and Late Night Talk Show Host)
• Joyce DeWitt (Janet on the Three’s Company)
• James Earl Jones (Actor)
• Shelley Long (Former Cheers actress)
• Bruce Springsteen (Recording Artist)
• Nelson Mandela (Former South African President)
• Margaret Thatcher (Former British Prime Minister)
• Kofi Annan (Former UN Secretary General)
• Oprah Winfrey (media Mogul)
• Tom Brokaw (Television News Network Broadcaster)
• Adam Sandler (Comedian)

Many high school debating teams often travel around the country while others concentrate on local tournaments. Many colleges offer debating scholarships. On average, about 10-20 twenty students per high school or about 30,000 students participate in debating tournaments annually.

Forensics also allows you to handle business meetings in a much more professional manner by allowing you think more logically, think ahead and plan what you’re going to say. It also enhances your ability to become more prepared for meetings by implementing thorough research.

Roland says, “Participating on debating teams throughout my high school years have served me well. I started when I was a sophomore. As a young kid, I always had something to say so my mom and dad encouraged me to join a debating team. I also joined the debating team while attending college at George Mason University. I enjoyed the opportunities I had so much that I give back to the community by managing debating team leagues locally and nationally. Part of what I do is ensure that everything runs smoothly and fairly. I handle the logistics and ensure the results are tabulated correctly and that no school judges its own students. I am responsible for the overall success of each tournament.”

Benefits of debating include:

a. Mentally organizing your thoughts

b. Learning how to take responsibility for yourself and your assigned tasks

c. Learning how to trust others to do their part

d. Learning to manage and plan time wisely

e. Learning to research and organize facts

f. Learning to work as a team

g. Learning how to create a plan of attack

h. Learning to present your case based on facts and avoiding personal attacks

i. Learning how to disengage emotions and control tempers that often accompany confrontations

j. Preparation for college and job interviews by allowing you to think on your feet and prepare you to think before you speak