Mar 14, 2024 At 04:17 PM EDT
Three years ago, when the Washington Urban Debate League (WUDL) first approached me about piloting a debate program at the elementary school level, I had mixed feelings. I was excited to be invited to participate in such a novel project, but a little nervous about whether my fourth and fifth graders would be able to wrap their minds around the structure and terminology of formal debate.
Still, as I thought about the ever-increasing importance of teaching respectful discourse and evidence-backed argumentation, I knew it was worth trying.
I pitched the idea to the kids with a simple set of questions: "Who likes to argue? Who wants to learn to argue like a professional?" Dozens of hands shot up, and soon I had a whole team full of eager future orators. The response from parents and the school administration was equally enthusiastic.
Behind the scenes, the organizers and I have had many conversations about the best way to welcome these youngest of participants into the world of debate.
Should we shorten the structure of the rounds, or simplify some of the vocabulary? Would the students be provided reference material for the purpose of ensuring equity, and would they be allowed to seek out evidence from additional sources? Should the children debate topics familiar and relevant to their own lives, as is often the standard for teaching persuasive skills at the elementary level, or were they ready—even eager—to engage with topics of global importance?
We decided to center the elementary debate topics around books, selecting engaging age-appropriate literature and using the characters' engaging adventures, as well as the students' familiarity with classroom discussions, as springboards into real-world topics.
Soon enough, students were arguing persuasively about issues ranging from intercultural code-switching, to U.S. foreign aid priorities, to the sentience and rights of artificial intelligence.
Debate contains a multitude of skills that are crucial for academic success and engagement in civil society. Students must be able to understand both sides of a controversial topic, carefully gather evidence to construct strong arguments, and ultimately enter the tournament without knowing exactly what their opponents will say. They must be ready both to demonstrate their thoughts and research, and to think on their feet in the heat of the competition.
In just months, I watched my students grow in all these skills while never losing their sense of fun. They crack silly jokes between practice rounds, then dive back into passionate speeches, rebuttals, and cross-examinations. I am impressed every day by their genuine interest in the material and desire to work toward a better world.
At the tournaments, the judges are mostly middle school debaters, many of them my former students. Just as I was impressed with my team's budding debate skills, I am impressed with the patience, encouragement, and discernment shown by the young judges. There is something truly inspiring—and miles away from the evergreen stereotypes bemoaning the flaws of the younger generation—about watching preteens listen carefully to the arguments of 9- and 10-year-olds, then give insightful, measured feedback.
Surely somewhere among these students are the leaders of the next generation, already learning to navigate complex conversations with civility and clarity.
The energy at the end of the last tournament was positively electric. As all participants were congratulated and the winners announced, students hugged and high-fived and the cafeteria exploded with cheering loud enough to rival any sports match.
Around the room, kids were thanking their coaches, asking the judges questions about the middle school team, and begging their parents to send them to debate camp over the summer. It felt like a celebration of civility and critical thinking—and proof that respectful argumentation can be a lot of fun!
