On Friday, April 24, Spence’s Upper School Debate team packed up and made its way to Oneonta, NY. Over the weekend six Spence teams competed in the New York State Forensic League Championship Tournament for Public Forum Debate. The teams included Katrina D. ’16 and Fiona S. ’16, Tea H. ’16 and Antigone X. ’16, Caleigh A. ’17 and Natalie B. ’17, Anya S. ’17 and Amelia R. ’17, Ellie R. ’17 and Georgina D. ’18 and, lastly, Eliza G. ’18 and Parvati R. ’18.

A Public Forum debate involves two teams of two participants who debate a resolution—one team defending the “pro” side and the other defending the “con.” Each round lasts 45 minutes and includes the recital of pre-written cases (similar to an opening statement), crossfires and unrehearsed orations. A judge observes each round and ultimately selects the victor. This format helped to support a desire to create a form of debate accessible to any audience and, above else, champions the power of persuasion. Thus, judges are not required to have any expertise in the subject of the debate—debaters articulate arguments comprehensibly and eloquently, while not being distinctly technical. Further, Public Forum provides an opportunity for Spence students to practice the skills of analysis, critical thinking and persuasiveness they learn at school.

The resolution debated at this tournament was the following: “Committing United States ground combat troops to fight ISIL is in the best interest of the United States.” To prepare, students perused mounds of articles, identifying evidence to defend their own cases and refute their opponents’ contentions. In addition, the debate teams conducted mock rounds in anticipation of the tournament while also studying the history of anti-Americanism, American interventionism and the origins and development of ISIL.

While at the tournament, four teams debated in the Novice Division while two debated in the JV Division. Spence’s teams faced competitors from both small and big cities across the state. After debating from 9 a.m. until 7 p.m. on Saturday, the Spence team awaited results with great anticipation, learning later that evening that five of the six teams at the tournament had moved to the next round. The five teams had reached octa-finals and were ranked as the top 16 teams in the state. Two teams, Tea H. ’16 and Antigone X. ’16, and Natalie B. ’17 and Caleigh A. ’17, reached the quarterfinals and ranked top eight in the state. And of the more than 80 schools that attended the tournament, Spence’s debate team was awarded fourth place for Public Forum Debate.

While Spence’s Debate team is still young and growing, it provides an opportunity for the use and development of two integral skills: argumentation and spontaneous articulation of personal thoughts. Spence equips its students with the analytical skills necessary for success in debate; Public Forum merely provides a medium in which to engage these skills. Debate also enhances research abilities as well as general knowledge of prevalent issues in American society. The growth of the team also serves a role in breaking traditional gender roles in the still male-dominated extracurricular. While many male debaters are quick to interrupt their female peers, Spence provides its students, and thus its debaters, with the confidence to challenge this habit—one male debater declared Spence students give male competitors “a taste of their own medicine.”

Debate provides excitement and pleasure to participants while enhancing skills that complement Spence’s curriculum, serving as a supplement to academics at school. With the combination of immense learning opportunities and general fun, the team looks forward to continuing to grow and eagerly anticipates the 2015-2016 debate season.