Urban debate contests sharpen learning, skills for college-bound students

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Benefits beyond debate

The study analyzed 10 years of the Chicago Urban Debate League and reported that among African-American male students, debaters were 70 percent more likely to graduate from high school, three times less likely to drop out, and 50 percent more likely to reach the ACT college-readiness benchmark than non-debaters.

"The only reason we're doing this is to get kids into college," said Rico Munn, a co-founder of the Denver Urban Debate League and executive director of the Colorado Department of Higher Education.

"We have the traditional forensics league, and some kids do independent events, but over the past 20 years those activities tend to be more suburban," Munn said. "In the DPS schools, there were only two or three leagues before we showed up. We wanted to bring debate back to the urban-school core."

Roberto Corrada is the other co-founder. He's a professor at the Sturm College of Law at the University of Denver and a former debater whose skill won him a scholarship that paid for his education.

Image by Blacksonville Community Network via Flickr

"Not only are kids interested in this, but they've got persistence, going from tournament to tournament, "he said. "I saw the first tournament, and by the third one, they'd grown immeasurably in the arguments they were making. I wouldn't have predicted they'd learn so quickly."

Being heard, motivated

Mostly, the students say they do it because it's fun. They like to argue, and to win. But there are fringe benefits.

"It gives motivation to keep your grades up, because in debate you have to have a C average," said Wendy Hoang.

Debater Alejandro Martinez likes his voice to be heard.

"When a tournament comes, you're like, 'Hey, I got all this evidence, and I got a way to change the world.' It feels good knowing someone is listening to you, and thinking there may be a possibility that this one kid might change something."

Read more: http://www.denverpost.com/ci_13837396

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