Debate Update

The Judge Memorial High School debate team is in the middle of a thriving season. One of their important upcoming dates is the long awaited debate tournament for which they have been working towards this whole year. Jesus Hernandez, one of the members on the team, says that the upcoming debate tournament is, "next week and is for three days. If we win, we will gain a spot in the national debate tournament." Winning in the tournament, called the Warrior Wars, is vital for the debate team to advance to their national title. Losing means that they will only be able to celebrate their local success.

The students on debate team and their coach, Ms. Megan McDonald, are frantically preparing to thrive in the tournament's strong competition. Jesus Hernandez says, "Debate members are preparing for this by getting all their speeches and cases ready for it." The tournament includes all forms of debate such as declamation and congress. It is like the Super Bowl of debate.

When Jesus Hernandez was asked what he would like the rest of the student body to know about debate, he said, "I would like the student body to learn at least a little about debate because it is useful in both legislative and judicial branches of government." According to him, the debate team does its best when their tournaments are well attended. He is convinced that Judge would have had a better seed in the Warrior Wars if more students had come to their past events. Let's do our part to cheer on the debate to success in the Warrior Wars!

Debate Team

Coach Megan McDonald and the Judge Debate Team's 27 members have been competing for 2 and a half months. The size of Judge's team keeps it uncompetitive against larger schools, however individually, Judge is performing extremely well. "I'm looking forward to the rest of the season," said McDonald, who is also a freshman and sophomore English teacher. She is coaching her first season alone at Judge. Her prior debating experience consists of assistant coaching another high school team in addition to competing on her college team.

Speech and Debate Is a Great Way To Excel

Speech and Debate is nothing new at Judge. The past and present teams have done very well and are most likely to continue their legacy. Debate and Speech helps students to overcome fears of public speaking and meeting new students at what seems like an enormous school. It also works well with other extra curricular activities because it can also be taken as an elective during 6th period.

If you have not already heard the hype about Speech and debate, it is a club that meets every Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, and during 6^th period. At meetings Students practice for upcoming tournaments and practice speeches. Once the season begins, they have games against other school teams. The upcoming season of Speech and Debate is soon approaching and the team is preparing and trying to get more students to join. Their plan of action is the next few weeks the team is holding "Speech Arts" where all students are welcome to participate.

The Debate and Speech team has accomplished so much and is appealing to all students at Judge Memorial High School. The team's coach, Ms. McDonald, has said "Speech and Debate has many great students in it who are willing to take risks such as joining in an improv game, or speaking in front of a class of twenty about toothpicks." The team consists of students from all grades and cliques but they all have one common ground, a love for Speech and Debate.

If you are interested in joining the remarkable Speech and Debate team at Judge Memorial High School, you are welcome to join in any meeting held in room 408 and are sure to have an enjoyable time.