2008-11-03
Interscholastic Tournaments a Success
Late October marked the start of Interscholastic Tournaments — informal afterschool competitions where students can hone their skills and befriend debaters from other programs. Over 60 students competed!
Each tournament was a big success. Ali Huberlie noted, "It was wonderful to see so many students trying debate for the first time. So many students came to the Interscholastics both to compete in their first debates and to watch their friends learn fundamental debating skills. I think the Interscholastics play an essential role in our afterschool programming because they allow students to put into practice the skills they have learned from our volunteers."
Perspectives would like thank the following coaches for hosting one of five different tournaments that took place all throughout the Philadelphia area:
Brenda Shamsi, Parkway Center City High School
Tom Rhodes, World Communications Charter School
Aisha Madhi, Constitution High School
Jeremy Shinefeld, William Penn High School
Jackie Desroleaux and Shelley Nash, Richard Allen High School
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Perspectives is a Philadelphia-based 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization promoting youth debate education. Students who debate dramatically increase their reading comprehension, critical thinking, and public speaking skills. In the process, debate becomes a forum to foster youth achievement and civic responsibility. Perspectives has worked with over 400 students in 8 states through afterschool, summer, and special events. www.philadebate.org