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Tiffany Wade
Joined: Oct 17, 2007
Posts: 1
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Gender & Age: Female & 24
Country: United States
Province/State: Rhode Island
City: Providence
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Debate as a way to bridge the achievement gap
November 30, 2007 - 08:35 PM
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As a former debater I can attest to the power of debate to motivate students to learn and achieve. Debate has enormous potential for creating systemic, positive, change in our urban schools. Debate is one of the most powerful activities available to help students improve their reading level, think critically, develop their academic research skills, improve their communication abilities, solve problems creatively, and increase their self-confidence. The activity increases students’ self confidence and exposes them to topics, concepts, and skills which are not available to them in school. Students learn about economics, philosophy, international relations, critical reading and thinking, academic research, and persuasive communication. This year students are debating about U.S. foreign aid policies to Sub-Saharan Africa, a topic which is relevant not only on a policy level but also on a societal welfare and moral level as well.
Debate also has a track record of improving students in the classroom. Debate has been shown in studies to increase students' reading levels; increase attendance; increase graduation rates; and serve as a bridge to professional careers post graduation; especially in law.
The question of how to reform our education system is a question which has plagued our nation for decades. There exists a very real option for improving our schools and our children if we focus our attention in the right places. Incorporating debate into after school program offerings is a constructive way to provide students with extracurricular activities which they will find rewarding; additionally, the competitive nature of debate helps to engage students who may not be otherwise drawn to academic activities.
There is an organization which is working towards building urban debate leagues across America - the National Association for Urban Debate Leagues.
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