Wisconsin Forensics Daily

Thursday Thing to Read: Preserving Debate

Wisconsin has been losing debate programs over the last several years. Many young coaches who were excepted to be the next generation of coaches have since moved on from the activity. Established coaches have also left, leaving many programs without the dedicated and qualified people that they need to ensure their program’s health. Sensing that this problem has become widespread and beyond the help of the governing organizations, I wrote the following letter to Wisconsin’s Governor, Senators, Congressional Representatives, and state Senators and Representatives that serve on education related committees:

Read on below the break.

Honorable «Title»:

Few people have difficulty seeing the value of high school debate. In addition to the abilities to research effectively, reason logically, and speak persuasively, high school debate teaches students to consider both sides of an important question—a level of understanding that cannot be easily earned just by reading a book. No one denies that our schools should be teaching these skills, but high school debate has nonetheless become an activity on the brink of extinction in Wisconsin.

The numbers are staggering. At this year’s state tournament—the culminating event of the season—only 29 high schools fielded teams. In comparison, 427 schools across the state competed in football during the fall. This means that less than one school in each football conference competes in debate, and that number continues to shrink. With retirements for several coaches looming, it is possible that there will be less than 20 schools actively competing in high school debate in Wisconsin in 2010.

I compare debate to football for good reason. Football is a resource intensive sport. Debate, too, requires resources—but it is a much cheaper activity, necessitating only a dedicated coach and the ability to cover travel expenses. Despite the undeniable academic benefits that the activity provides, many schools have eliminated their debate programs in order to cut costs. The result is a vicious cycle: as fewer schools participate in debate, the activity grows more expensive as those that remain are forced to travel longer distances just to attend competitions. And unlike football, debate brings in little revenue to support its academic mission.

Debate seems pressed into a losing game. Frequently, a dedicated coach retires and no one is hired as a replacement; within a few years, the program ceases to exist. The elimination of debate in one school district means it is more likely for another to dismiss the activity. Each of the debate coaches that I represent struggle to keep their program active. My organization does what it can to promote the activity, but we alone cannot keep it afloat.

I write to you, «Title», because I feel debate has nowhere to turn in Wisconsin. It is impossible for debate coaches alone to convince school administrators across the state to preserve and support this activity. Because of the economy, school officials are forced to make shortsighted decisions to shore up their budgets. Eliminating the activity that best instructs our students to research, reason, and communicate effectively will only deprive our future labor market of the talent that it needs to thrive.

Something needs to be done to preserve high school debate in Wisconsin. The greater political community must become involved if debate in Wisconsin is to endure.

Sincerely,

Nick Bubb

President
Wisconsin Debate Coaches Association

The point of my letter was to contact Wisconsin’s political leadership in hopes of finding a potential solution to address our current situation. I do not know what is necessary in order to ensure that debate endures and it is not unreasonable to assume that conversation with policy makers might be fruitful. I do know that without some kind of effort debate and its educational benefits will cease to be available to Wisconsin’s students.

Few of the responses I have received seem open to addressing the problem. To be fair, I did not ask for a particular action. Rather – I asked for a conversation. Instead, staffs of various representatives have told me that Wisconsin/the Federal Government does not handle these issues – school districts do. Which is precisely my point – school districts are making poor decisions because of the environment that state and federal policies/funding decisions have imposed on them.

Moreover, the civics lesson response is a bit insulting. I am fully aware of what each level of government is empowered to do. I had faith that my political system could address an important problem if made aware of it. Political representatives have more power than simply changing policies. Is it unreasonable to assume that people could exercise leadership on important issues? Is the real problem that we did not pay a lobbyist to tell political leadership the solution we would like to propose?

I have received responses from the following individuals:

Representative Baldwin (WI-2)
Representative Sensenbrenner (WI-5)
Senator Feingold
State Senator Risser
State Senator Lehman
State Representative Townsend
State Representative Davis
State Superintendent of Public Instruction Tony Evers (far and away the best response).

I am working on a method of posting their responses.

Posted in Columns, Monday Meditation |