The community at large benefits from Urban Debate Leagues through the production of high school graduates who are fully prepared to understand and contribute to the democratic process. Participation in debate instills the confidence and awareness that young people need in order to fulfill their roles as members of a democratic society. Young people enter the adult world prepared to respond to the two basic demands of civic responsibility: developing informed opinions and expressing them effectively. Through their intensive research, debaters learn to read and think carefully and critically about a wide variety of public policy issues.
Debate programs also prepare students to become leaders in their communities. Debaters are disproportionately represented in leadership ranks in the law, business, and academia. With expanded horizons, and by learning to lead and compete, urban debaters are equipped to improve their schools, strengthen their communities, and ultimately broaden the local and national leadership base. A survey by the National Forensic League shows that 64% of the Members of the United States Congress competed in debate or speech in high school.
Debating for an interscholastic program teaches cooperation, teamwork, and social maturity. Debaters must develop aggressive and critical listening skills. Urban debate, in particular, situates these students in a highly multi-cultural environment, providing a valuable and unique experience for thriving in today’s increasingly interconnected world.
