Pilot Mountain Middle School debater Caroline Willard makes a point during the first district debate tournament held at the Dobson First Baptist Church on Friday.
Dobson — County Middle School Students came out swinging, verbally speaking, at the first district debate tournament on Friday at Dobson First Baptist Church.
“I am so pleased to see you arrive at this day,” Said Surry County School’s Superintendent Ashley Hinson. “To have students in competition related to learning is something really special. I’m so excited about what is to come and what we’ll accomplish.”
Preparing for the event required students to use research skills and a variety of other skills such as writing and collaboration. Many students used their flex time and after-school clubs to train for the debates, making it an extra-curricular effort they have worked on for some time.
The event included a Congressional Policy Debate, Public Forum Debate and a Lincoln-Douglas Debate. Each school submitted a topic to debate in each category.
In the Congressional Policy Debate, students emulated Congress by debating bills and resolutions. Each school submitted mock legislation to each tournament. Each team researched as many topics as possible to be able to speak on both sides of every legislation.
Students decided what will be debated and when. Judges ranked speakers on logic, organization and eloquence on a scale of 1-6 based on the National Forensics League scoring rubric.
The Public Forum debate can be compared to a nationally-televised debate such as the television program “Crossfire.” Teams of two people alternated speeches for their side, either confirming or negating their topic. There was little focus on jargon or argumentation theory, the debaters had to make persuasive and logical arguments that are accessible to a variety of audiences.
The Lincoln-Douglas debate is a one-on-one debate that was introduced to National Forensic League tournaments in 1981. Students are asked to explore arguments about abstract concepts, standards of behavior and competing visions of what kind of a world society should strive to create. It is commonly referred to as a round with two debaters taking opposing positions on a predetermined resolution. One debate argues for the truth of his statement and the other attempts to prove that it is false.
Coaches for the Gentry Middle School Debate Team are Kim Davis and Melissa Whitfield. Team members are Zack Adams, Wyatt Angel, Hannah Button, Cheney Card, Anna Beth Flippin, Jonathan Gentry, Luke Mauldin, Denja Norman and Sunie Shore.
The Central Middle School team members are Hugh Atkinson, Coy Barr, Derick Brown, Micah Cozzens, Sunny Darlington, Paul Edwards, Jackson Gates, Katlyn Jones, Blake Kornburst, Michael Myers, Cheyenne Parker, Monica Verona and Mallory Wilmoth. Greg Easter and Brandi Joyce are coaches for the team.
Meadowview Middle’s team is coached by Alicia McCromick and Heather Stafford. Team members are Emma Cagle, Eli combs, Belle Martin, Melissa Presley, Barrett Slate, John smith, Logan Smith, Brittani Sumlin, Taylor Tickle and Michelle Utt.
Arysta Brick, Wendy Childress are the coaches for the Pilot Mountain Middle School debaters. Abbie Donahue is the student helper. The team members are Damon Badgett, Ty Brooks, Ben Chilton, Wyatt Guy, Kayla King, Jacob Pettit, Noah Shaw, Carriella Starnes, Cora Tucker, Dylan Wagoner and Caroline Willard.
Ricky Bowman, Chad Casstevens, Sonia Dickerson, Andrew Fulk, Chuck Graham, Cory Honeycutt, Heather Horton, Terry Mosley, Jill Reinhardt, Emily Summey, Jan Varney, Melissa White and Pat Widdowson served as judges for the event.
The winners in the congressional debate are Hugh Atkinson, Central Middle, eighth grade. Presiding Officer, Jacob Pettit, Pilot Mountain Middle, eighth grade. Runner up was Denja Norman, Gentry Middle, sixth grade; Logan Smith, Meadowview Middle, eighth grade.
The public forum was won by the team of Taylor Tickle and Belle Martin of Meadowview Middle and the runner up team was Michael Myers and Coy Barr, Central Middle.
The Lincoln-Douglas was won by Micah Cozzens, Central Middle, eighth grade and the runner up was Jackson Gates, Central Middle, seventh grade.
Reach David Broyles at dbroyles@heartlandpublications.com or 719-1952.
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