Dallas ISD debaters exercise civil discourse and democracy at Mayor’s Cup Public Debate

Using one of America’s founding principles of democracy: debate, Dallas ISD students participated in the 4^th Annual Mayor’s Cup Public Debate on February 15 at the Old Parkland Hospital Complex. The public debate was hosted by Dallas City Mayor Eric Johnson and the Dallas Urban Debate Alliance.

Focusing on the importance of civil discourse to the city, businesses, and society, Mayor Johnson told the students and audience that healthy and rigorous debate helps all of us make reasonable decisions about the future.

Using the World Schools debate format, students from Sunset, Conrad, Hillcrest, and Rangel high schools argued the following motion: This House regrets the increased focus of higher education on STEM at the expense of the Liberal Arts.

World Schools Debate is a parliamentary-based event that focuses on conversational delivery and teamwork with interjections in the form of questions and statements from the other team during speeches.

“The students rose to the occasion, each bringing their strengths to the table as they researched the topic, wrote cases, and practiced at their schools and online with each other prior to a dry run at the venue,” said Cindi Timmons, executive director of the Dallas Urban Debate Alliance. “It was exciting to see how each student brought their own style and personality to the debate. We are so proud of them.”

Audience members also took part in the debate by slapping the table when they heard something profound, making  this style of debate engaging for all as the debaters fed off the audience’s energy.

“It was an amazing debate, and I enjoyed every part of the experience,” Jay Obregon, a Sunset High School senior, said.

The panel of judges was from the University of North Texas, Greenhill School, and Carrington Coleman Law Firm. One of the judges, Dorlin Armijo, an attorney and a Dallas ISD graduate, told the debaters that their “voice and critical thinking skills were their greatest assets.”

“Each debater has a responsibility to use their skills for the betterment of society, especially diverse debaters,” she said. “I am excited to see how these debaters will utilize their superpowers to give back to the community.”

After  the debate, the eight participants and four alternates were each surprised with a $250 scholarship from the Dallas Urban Debate Alliance.

A non-profit organization, Dallas Urban Debate Alliance has partnered with Dallas ISD Student Activities for 15 years to support the access of competitive academic debate to middle and high school students across Dallas.