The pursuit of dispute: Sumter High relaunches speech and debate team; program develops public speaking and research skills

In today's climate of social media and politics, facts, research and respect can take a back seat to misinformation and attacks, but a group of high school students is pursuing the finer elements of true debate.

After 24 years without an active speech and debate team, Sumter High School has reestablished a club and team under the leadership of three advisors and competed in its first official tournament since 2001 in late September in the Upstate, where three students placed.

Current seniors Trillyon Glover and Dyquan Wilson initiated the idea for the club in the spring while they were still juniors and asked Sumter High teacher Joshua Miller to lead the group.

Both students said they like to watch debates, including presidential debates.

Wilson said he and Glover were in a meeting last school year where debate was occurring, and the two said to each other, "You know what? We should start a debate club."

They said they did not know the school previously had one more than 20 years ago.

Miller started the club, which now consists of 33 students, as an informal discussion group, he said.

After winning a grant in the spring, Miller was able to pay for the school's membership fee to become an active chapter in the National Speech and Debate Association, which is the largest high school speech and debate organization in the U.S. The association offers a wide range of resources for students and advisors, or coaches as they are sometimes called.

This semester team members will compete in three tournaments, and Miller said he hopes to schedule three more tournaments in the spring.

SKILLS LEARNED IN SPEECH

AND DEBATE

High school speech and debate teams function very differently from the current political climate in America today, according to Miller and members of Sumter High's team.

Skills learned include leadership, public speaking, civic engagement and research skills, Miller said.

"Those research skills are really important for college," he said. "Every time they prepare a speech or prepare an argument for debate, it follows the basic outline of an essay that you would write in college."

Another key aspect of speech and debate among chapters in the national association is that high school students do not just pick whatever side they want to on a topic, Miller said. Instead, they must be prepared to give arguments for both sides on issues. In turn, students become more empathetic with the other side.

"That is what I find so refreshing about what we are doing with high school speech and debate," he added. "It is not the same kind of discourse that we see nationally. This is really a discourse that is bringing students together on topics that are usually divisive.

"They are not making unfounded statements. Every statement they make has to be supported by a source. You have to look at issues that not just reflect your own personal beliefs, but also you must think about the side you oppose and 'Why do they believe what they believe?'"

Sumter High sophomores Johonna Patterson and Brandon Reyes were part of the school's 10-member team that traveled to the first tournament on Sept. 27 in Greer at Riverside High School. Patterson and Reyes were two of seven students who competed in different events, and both noticed the civility in the debate atmosphere.

Patterson said after all the rounds, the team went and talked with all their opponents and became friends.

"We exchanged phone numbers and stuff and got close to them," she said. "It was really an interesting experience. They were defensive during the debate, but at the end, they were the nicest people."

Reyes said high school debate really shows the character of the person.

"After the rounds ended, there was a recess, and it felt like a welcoming and almost like a family," he added.

The initial tourney was named the Carolina Kickoff Novice Tournament and consisted of 12 teams, representing different high schools, and a total of 125 students, according to Miller.

Sumter High's team competed in four events to include Public Forum, Informative Speaking, Original Oratory and Congressional Debate.

Three students placed. Patterson and Corbin Weatherwax were the Sumter team's pair that competed in Public Forum and finished fourth in the event. The official topic they debated was if the UK should rejoin the European Union.

Miller said in Public Forum, the two-person teams debate a topic at a level that is easy enough for a lay audience to understand, and it is somewhat modeled after CNN's former political debate show "Crossfire" that aired until 2005.

Sumter High's Khloe Benson finished sixth in Informative Speaking, and her topic was Anxiety in Today's Teens. That event requires students to write an original speech that is informative and must be 10 minutes.

Because the team is so new, Miller said whoever wants to compete at an event can do so, and he and fellow advisors Precious Bethel and Marra Masuhod are not making specific selections at this time.

Miller added the team must cover its own travel expenses, and a single bus trip to the Greenville area, where the first tournament occurred, on a school activity bus costs $1,200. To date, the Palmetto Optimist Club sponsored the team and gave them that amount to cover a team trip. He said he regularly seeks new sponsors.

MORE ON THE NEW TEAM

Because so many students compete in very different events, team practices are very individualized, according to Miller.

"I walk from Student A to Student B and just ensure what they are preparing in their speeches is according to the guidelines of the National Speech and Debate Association," he said.

Practice is on Tuesdays through Thursdays from 4 to 5 p.m.

Students regularly must take work home with them and prepare independently, Miller added.

Some students may compete in sports and cannot make it to practices, but he said if they prepare adequately on their own, he still allows them to compete.

Sumter High Principal Anamaria Sandor said she is proud the team has relaunched after so many years, and she is excited to see what the future holds.

"I am especially proud to see Speech and Debate thriving once again at Sumter High," she said. "The program builds students' confidence, communication and critical thinking skills, which are essential tools for success in college, careers and life. We are excited to see this team continue to grow and inspire a new generation of Gamecock leaders."

Miller added he has been impressed with the group and the passion they bring to the team.

"They have far exceeded any standards that I had," he said. "Many of them sound like experts, I think, and could achieve a master's or PhD in education."

According to Miller, to participate in most tournament events requires "an intense amount of preparation."

"So, these students are dealing with all their schoolwork that they have for their classes," he said. "But on top of that, and outside of practices even, they are working on their speeches, which are essentially essays. So, it takes a lot of work, a lot of dedication and commitment, and I don't think they would have that if they were not passionate about what they are doing. So, I can tell they really enjoy debate and are passionate about it."