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Quincy High forms debate team teams
Fledgling program is already winning competition awards
Courtesy photo
Quincy High School debate team members include: (from left) Ruth Garcia, teacher Brad Thew, Genesis Montano, Ashley Breeden, Daisy Diaz, Suzy Bustos, Titus Berndt, Jenelly Avalos, Rachel Horning, Raul Garcia, Nayeli Diaz, Laura Montano, Emma Rigby and Gio Cruz. Not pictured: Fiona Koehnen.
Ashley Breeden opened her black binder and confidently began reading a selection reminiscing about early childhood to her fellow debate team members.
The story, the first of three such selections, was part of an interpretive reading speech with a central theme of parenthood, which Breeden had prepared for this year’s debate team competitions. Her selections included a humorous piece by Bill Crosby in which his teenage son asked for a car and a sobering piece about life with Alzheimer’s.
Breeden is just one of the students on the Quincy High School debate team. In their latest competition in Moses Lake, the team took the second-place sweepstakes in the small school division.
Quincy Junior High teacher, Brad Thew, started the debate team in October. Thew had previously been a debate coach for six years at Central Valley in Spokane.
“There wasn’t anything like it here,” said Thew. “I was hoping for five to six kids. We have 20 on the books now.”
There are several different debate formats available to students. There is the structured debate where students can compete with a partner or on their own. Each month’s topic is different and covers subjects ranging from domestic violence to immigration reform.
Students can also give speeches. One is the interpretive reading speech, which includes story selections or poetry, such as Breeden’s speech, which won her third place in Moses Lake.
Another is a persuasive or oratory speech, such as the speech Rachel Horning gave on the needle exchange program, in which she informed listeners of some of the benefits of such a program and the results being seen in areas with such programs. The speech put her in second place in Moses Lake. Other categories include extemporaneous speaking and expository speaking.
Overall, five students placed in the top three in their respective categories. Ashley Breeden took second place Novice Extemporaneous Speaking, third place in Open Interpretive Reading and first place in Novice Lincoln-Douglas Debate; Emma Rigby placed first in Novice Expository Speaking; Ruth Garcia took third place in Novice Interpretive Reading; Fiona Koehnen placed second in Novice Interpretive Reading; Emma Rigby and Rachel Horning took second in Novice Public Forum Debate; and Rachel Horning placed second in Original Oratory.
Thew hopes to start a debate team at the Quincy Junior High this spring.
Students from the high school will help serve as judges for the junior high competitions.
3 Comments
#2
Timothy commented, on February 3, 2012 at 1:55 p.m.:
Not all debaters were recognized. maybe try talking about some other events other debaters did not just miss. Breeden.
Editor's note: I just want to make sure you all read the whole article, because plenty of debaters were mentioned in the article.
#3
John Tight commented, on February 3, 2012 at 3:09 p.m.:
I was also informed that there was another member that was not included, In the "not picture of".
John Tight commented, on February 2, 2012 at 3:32 p.m.:
I recommend all the names are mentioned not just of one person. Makes it look like you Have favorites? Anyways i was informed Ashley Breeden was not the only one succesful in this tornamunt. Others should be named as well. Thank you for your comprehension.
P.S. All The debaters should be recognized!
Editor's Note: Good point John. We did recognize all of the debaters with a caption under their photo, which ran in the paper, but the photo had not been included with the article until you brought up the problem. So, thanks!
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