Kids these days - a glimmer of hope

daddyjt

I had a very moving experience a few weeks ago that seems to be staying with me, and I think it’s worth sharing.

I have a daughter who’s a senior in high school and competes in debate. I often volunteer to judge at debate tournaments for a couple of reasons: I enjoy watching young people make well reasoned arguments in a respectful manner (and giving them copious feedback), and because they always need qualified judges for the varsity events.

Anyway, most debate tournaments run behind schedule, and this one a few weeks ago was no exception. So at 10pm, 90% of the competitors (about 250 kids) were scattered throughout the auditorium waiting for the final rounds to finish so the awards could be announced. The school had a DJ of sorts playing music over the PA system in the auditorium, and when I walked in it was hip hop-ish song that no one was really paying attention to. I took a seat in the back row and started scrolling through email on my phone. Just then the DJ spun-up Bohemian Rhapsody by Queen, and something magical happened - virtually ALL the kids started singing, word for word, Bohemian Rhapsody. As the song progressed, the boys and girls sang opposing lines to eachother - it was surreal. I would have bet that it was rehearsed, but these were kids from a dozen different schools…

Next song up was Sweet Caroline - same thing, every kid belting it out with wide smiles. Then It was Don’t Stop Belivin’ - perhaps the most enthusiastic performance yet by these kids. I was dumb-struck that not only did these kids KNOW these songs well enough to know ALL the words, they were HAVING A BALL singing them with eachother. Maybe I’m a little weird here but I have to be honest, it was a very moving experience. Then the DJ went back to some present day pop something or other, and as fast as it arrived, the magic was gone.

I’ll be the first to admit that Debate Kids are an odd bunch (in a good way), but my faith in the future generation was bolstered just a bit that night. I doubt I will ever forget that experience - I feel grateful to have been there to see such a natural expression of joy.

VR3

Great story, sounds amazing truly

Something about watching kids do amazing things that can make you tear up, especially your own.

dromunds

Is it true that debate has turned into “speed-talking?” Or is that more the case at the college level? It’s good that your daughter is engaged in debate, she’s learned valuable skills that will prove useful in many ways in her future.

daddyjt

dromunds wrote: »

Is it true that debate has turned into “speed-talking?” Or is that more the case at the college level? It’s good that your daughter is engaged in debate, she’s learned valuable skills that will prove useful in many ways in her future.

Quite the opposite surprisingly. When I competed in high school (a long time ago), there was Policy and Lincoln Douglas (LD). Policy is 2-man “speed talking” (or “spew” as we called it) facts only argument, and LD is a one-on-one persuasive value-based argument. I did LD, and I find much more life long value in that experience, but back in the day, Policy debate was king - it was the centerpiece of every tournament. NOW they have a third event called Public Forum (PF), that is by far the most popular. PF is kind of a mix between LD and Policy - teams of 2, shorter speeches, with a mix of value and evidence based arguments. Many schools don’t even field Policy teams any more. In fact this particular tournament only had 6 policy teams entered, vs about 50 PF teams… And then there’s speech events…

dromunds

I listened to a college-level debate and it was a joke, the “speed-talking” was unintelligible. Debate presupposes persuasion and one cannot persuade when one is spewing. My roommate in college was a collegiate debater many years ago and he was appalled at what college debate had turned into. I’m glad to hear that the youth have seemingly turned from that spewing. It has no legitimate relevance in the real world that I’ve known (unless you want a job reading the disclaimers in the pharmaceutical ads on television as fast as humanely possible.) I’m glad that your daughter is involved in tournaments as well, my friend told me he volunteered as an assistant coach for a forensics team and the head coach didn’t believe in competition as “we don’t want anyone to be disappointed,” and in that world of theirs everyone got a trophy. My friend left after a short time.

Geoff4rfc

Cool story indeed! In a world that is rapidly being runover by entitled youths that have no idea what it's like to gain merit on their own and to have accountability, and don't even get me started on integrity, it's refreshing to hear things like this, by the story, these kids are obviously from good stock!