Inspiring the Next Generation to Champion Social Justice through Speech and Debate

Do you want to instill in young students a deeper understanding of the responsibilities of being a global citizen in the 21st century? You will learn how to guide students to explore social justice issues utilizing the philosophy and structure of speech and debate, teaching them the basics of persuasive speaking, challenging them to reflect on race, equity and inclusion, sharpening their critical thinking skills and building confidence in their ability to speak and defend an argument. We will give an overview of how we created and designed a program geared toward 3rd-5th graders, outlining the steps we utilized, the program’s evolution over the course of five successful series and tips on how to establish and sustain a Speech and Debate program. We will discuss the impact of enlisting speakers to share their lived experiences with injustice as well as local experts – such as the panel of three individuals that shared their experiences of being Black in the United States for our Black Lives Matter series, and the docent from the Japanese American Museum of San Jose who spoke about the internment camps during WWII. We will discuss the method we used to develop a recruitment plan for teen volunteers based on a set of criteria and skills necessary to work as instructors for the program. You will be able to take the information provided to appraise your community’s demographics and identify topics in social justice relevant to your target audience. Participants will learn how to assess  their program, matching student learning objectives to assessment criteria through direct observation, anecdotal evidence, a demographic-focused registration form and a pre- and post- program survey.