Chicago Middle School Debate League
The Chicago Debate League (CDL) is completing its eleventh year. Encompassing 42 high schools, more than 80 teachers, and nearly 1000 students, it is one of the largest Urban Debate Leagues (UDLs) in the nation. The CDL is probably the most competitive of the all the UDLs – with the first UDL team to advance to the Elimination rounds at the Barkley Forum at Emory University, the Top Team at the J. B. Fuqua Novice UDL Nationals for three of the past four runnings of the event, and a team in the Top Ten of the NFL Nationals in both 2004 and 2005.
In the last five years, a national trend toward extending urban debate programming into urban public middle schools has emerged. Cities such as Atlanta, Baltimore, the District of Columbia, Kansas City, Miami, and New York have added middle school academic debate competition to their Urban Debate Leagues. These UDLs have reported an extremely high level of interest, participation, retention, and learning among middle school debate participants, particularly over the past three years.
This year, through a partnership with the Office of Extended Learning Opportunities, the Office of High Schools and High School Programs, the Chicago Debate League, the National Association for Urban Debate Leagues, and After School All-Stars, the pilot program has been successfully launched at six elementary schools with 120 5-8th graders participating, from Alcott, Brighton Park, Kellogg, Lincoln, Owen Scholastic, and Smyser. We look forward to expanding the Chicago Middle School Debate League in the coming years.
This year, the students successfully debated the national high school policy topic:
Resolved: The United States federal government should substantially increase its public health assistance to Sub-Saharan Africa.
We wish all of the teams the best of luck in the City Championship!
Acknowledgements
The Office of High Schools and High School Programs wishes to thank the following schools for their support in hosting the Middle School Tournaments this year:
You are greatly appreciated!
Alcott Elementary, David Domovic, Principal
Brighton Park Elementary, Glenda Johnson, Principal
Hyde Park High School, Afina Lockhart, Assistant Principal
Kenwood Academy High School, Elizabeth Kirby, Principal
Special thanks also go the host schools’ staff and students for their service during these tournaments throughout the year. We are also grateful to our After-School All-Stars Coordinators who have helped to make all of this possible. Finally, we would like to thank the many parents and volunteers who have supported this program!