State Debate Championship in Watertown Friday and Saturday!

I have the honor of judging the South Dakota State Debate Tournament at Watertown High School this weekend. I will get to see some of the smartest students in the state debating the workability of expanded social services, the morality of economic sanctions, and the pros and cons of organized lobbying. I'll also hear some great extemporaneous and oratorical speaking. These intrepid high school students may make more speeches and certainly more difficult speeches in this one weekend than most South Dakota students make in an entire semester of their required classroom speech course.

I've written often that high school debate is the most academically challenging activity we can offer our kids. I did a count once and found that my high school debate class met two-thirds of the state language arts curriculum standards... and that was without getting creative about my interpretation of the standards. Any high school that doesn't fully promote debate is really missing out. If you don't believe me, come to Watertown High School this weekend and watch.

You can see State Debate photos and catch results at the South Dakota Public Broadcasting website.