At High School Debates, Debate Is No Longer Allowed
Members of the Walter Johnson High School debate team in Bethesda, Maryland, take part in an American tradition in 2005. (Nikki Kahn via Getty Images)
At national tournaments, judges are making their stances clear: students who argue ‘capitalism can reduce poverty’ or ‘Israel has a right to defend itself’ will lose—no questions asked.
My four years on a high school debate team in Broward County, Florida, taught me to challenge ideas, question assumptions, and think outside the box. It also helped me overcome a terrible childhood stutter. And I wasn’t half-bad: I placed ninth my first time at the National Speech & Debate Association (NSDA) nationals, sixth at the Harvard national, and…
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