How to Start a Middle School Debate Team

Learning how to debate in middle school can help students become more aware of the world around them.

Debate teams provide students with a chance to develop effective rhetorical, research, thinking and public speaking skills that can be used in a future career. Middle school students who participate in a debate team learn how to engage, examine and expand their understanding of the world as they learn how to present their ideas in an effective, confident manner. (Reference 1)

Things You'll Need

• Flyers

Instructions

1. Recruit a staff member to serve as a sponsor for the club. Ask him how many hours he has available each week to dedicate to the debate team and when he is available. Request permission to use his classroom for team meetings and practices.

2. Make an appointment with the school principal. Take the debate team sponsor with you and discuss your ideas for starting a debate team. Ask for the principal's permission to start the team.

3. Contact the Middle School Public Debate Program and find out if they have leagues in your area. Get their advice on how to start and successfully maintain a club. Ask about other debate leagues if the organization is not active in your area

4. Set up a date for your first recruitment meeting. Make sure the date does not conflict with other school events, such as pep rallies. Reserve at least 20 to 30 minutes for the first meeting.

5. Announce that you are starting a debate club. Put flyers on bulletin boards and make an announcement over the PA system. Make sure the flyers and announcement mention the time and date of the first meeting. (Reference 2)

6. Hold your first meeting. Explain what debating is and why you think it is important for students to participate. Get a list of people who are interested in joining the team. Make sure to get telephone numbers and email addresses so you can contact potential members.

7. Have students obtain permission from their parents, if required by school policy. Distribute sign-up sheets for students to take home.

8. Set the date of your first official debate team meeting. Schedule this time with the debate team sponsor. Plan activities to build your team and get the recruits to socialize. Announce your regular meeting time and place.

9. Start meeting weekly with your debate team. Choose a topic that can be debated every month or two and ask administrators if you can use assemblies to showcase your debate team. When possible, invite guests who can help your team improve their public speaking skills.

References

• Laural Hill School: Leadership Institute--LHS Debate Team;
• Middle School Public Debate Program: Buliding a Team