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Building Future Leaders Through Speech and Debate

We’ve all heard the statistics. Our culture is ruining our ability to communicate.

According to the Mayo Clinical Health System, American teens spend 7 hours, 4 min

looking at a screen each day. Whether this use is for social media, texting, or doing

schoolwork, that’s over seven waking hours of every day when a student is not

communicating face-to-face with anyone. Yet, the ability to interact with others is an

essential skill for any adult. Clearly, there is a disconnect.

It takes time and experience to become a proficient communicator and to develop

emotional intelligence - to learn to read physical cues from another person and

respond accordingly. According to Dr. Michelle Borba, an educational psychologist,

and so many others, this generation of teens is the most emotionally stunted, stressed

out, and lonely generation we have experienced in this country. But, scripture tells us

that we need each other. We are told to love each other, carry each other’s burdens,

encourage one another, and to take the light of Christ to those who don’t know Him.

That means as parents, we need to be proactive to help our children prepare to be salt

and light, to help them find their voice, and to give them tools to reach the world.

Speech and debate is an engaging and effective means of accomplishing this goal.

Speech and debate students not only learn how to organize their thoughts and

communicate articulately, but they also learn other important skills like writing,

researching, logical reasoning, and listening. These skills prepare students to be

effective communicators and leaders whether in the workplace, the military, or in higher

education.

College coursework is not as daunting for speech and debate students. Debaters have

studied history, economics, and government much more extensively than their peers.

Writing a research paper is comfortable and familiar, and entering class discussions is

not nearly as intimidating. Having speech and debate on a transcript makes a strong

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statement to both colleges and employers. It’s said that hard skills win you the

interview, but soft skills - the ability to communicate well - land the job.

Finally, and most importantly to me as a mother and as a coach, the life skills learned,

the friendships made, and the spiritual growth that happens among this group who

spends so much time together and becomes such a supportive and encouraging force

has an extraordinary influence on the future of a teen. Speech and debate students

learn to organize their thoughts well. They become articulate speakers, They think

deeply about hard problems. They spend significant time in face-to-face conversations,

and they learn to listen. It’s education for the mind, but it has a profound impact on the

heart.

Take the leap - you’ll be so glad you did!

Lisa Heady

Coach

Proclaim Speech and Debate