"Resolved: The United States Federal Government should substantially increase social services to persons living in poverty in the United States.
That's the debate topic for next year for high school students nationwide in the event of policy debate.
I'm a 7th grade US history teacher and after ...
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"Resolved: The United States Federal Government should substantially increase social services to persons living in poverty in the United States.
That's the debate topic for next year for high school students nationwide in the event of policy debate.
I'm a 7th grade US history teacher and after school I am the Debate Coach for our 7th-12th graders. We are one of the few urban public schools with a Debate Team. Three years ago I started the Debate Team with a handful of students. Today, there are about 70 students on the Debate Team from grades 7th-12th. We are the largest urban debate team in the country. And we are one of the most successful.
Debate is one of the most challenging academic opportunities out there. Students learn valuable skills in public speaking, writing, researching, logic, philosophy, current events, economics and so many other subjects.
It is one of the most student centered activities where the student is the one in front of the class and the teachers are the ones sitting and listening. And for that reason, debaters devote their after school, evenings, weekends and summers to debate practice, debate tournaments and debate camps.
But most important of all, debate is a college prep activity. Students research and study subjects and authors that they do not normally study until college. Debaters have to read all the major philosophers and philosophies. Debaters study political science, economics, critical theory, and rhetoric. Debaters read college level texts. Debaters travel to tournaments located at colleges like Harvard, Columbia, Yale - to name a few we travel to every year. And debaters get recruited and have opportunities for scholarships for college debate teams. Nearly all colleges and universities have debate teams and outreach efforts for high school students. And debaters also get exposure through competition of their future college classmates. A huge problem that occurs in schools is if students just remain within the walls of the school and are never exposed to their college competition. My students go head to head against students from public schools, failing schools, private schools, parochial schools.
The problem is that debate costs a lot of money. Students will read, write, and research thousands of pieces of evidence. They have to photocopy and print thousands of pages. They have to attend summer debate institutes at major universities which cost in the thousands of dollars.
I was hoping to close the gap by applying for a grant to purchase a classroom library of books devoted to next year's debate topic which is on the topic of poverty in the United States. That way my students who cannot afford to buy their own books and cannot afford to attend fancy debate camps, can have access to some of the best research resources available. Not to mention the incredible literacy skills they gain by reading books that they want to read, rather than what they have to read. And finally, the debate topic and its research is so relevant to our student population. The majority of are students and our schools in the South Bronx are high poverty. And hence it is our school's mission and our student's mission to overcome these economic obstacles.
And so I focused this proposal on a mini library of poverty books - not on theoretical issues and hypothetical solutions to poverty - but on real people who have dedicated their lives to fighting poverty - Dorothy Day, Chesar Chavez, Jane Addams, the Settlement House movement and several other historical figures. The Settlement Houses I'm particularly interested in for our debaters because our school is located in New York City which has over a dozen historical settlement houses that we can visit, tour, and even volunteer for. So this is not just a debate topic to practice for trophies, but a debate topic that will actually make a difference in our local community.
Thanks!
My students need 30 books for their debate research on this year's debate topic of poverty. We would like to read a library of books on Dorothy Day, Cesar Chavez, Jane Addams, and other advocates for the poor.
See Mr. F.'s class participating in this project!
(Enlarge photos)
Nov 16, 2009
Dear Prout Family, Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation and Dorothy,
Thank you so much for the books.Our school has no budget to buy books, many of our students do not have access to public libraries, the public libraries that are available have few resources relevant to the debate topic.So I thank you for your donation which has provided us with an excellent classroom library with excellent resources.The students are borrowing books on a regular basis and reading them at school, after school and at home.They provide us with awesome resources for debate – more original arguments, in depth research, more recent research, more qualified authors.This is important because most debate schools have large libraries, students who can purchase their own books and the budget to out compete against any other schools.
But I also thank you for the type of books ordered.Our debate team and similar urban debate teams like us, specialize in a particular debate strategy of critical theory.For example, this year's topic is on the federal government increasing social services for persons living in poverty.Most teams read and quote traditional public policy researchers, professors, politicians, experts, etc.They read about extensive studies, empirical examples, anti-poverty models, etc.But critical theory turns this upside down and looks at what people living in poverty have to think about the issue or people working at the grassroots think about poverty.And so we chose a selection of books from Cesar Chavez to Dorothy Day to the New York City settlement house movement to provide our students with a rich variety of primary source material from people on the front lines of poverty and how poverty is seen through different perspectives in relation to race, gender and identity.
Such literature is usually reserved for college students, but on our debate team students are reading about critical theory, philosophy, and political science starting in middle school.And so I cannot say how much I thank your for providing our students for the resources and means to challenge themselves to achieve their highest potential.
With gratitude, Mr. F.
Mr. F. sent this note after the project was fully funded:
Jul 4, 2009
Dear Prout Family, Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation and Dorothy,
Thank you so much for supporting our Debate Team! The books you are donating provide us with an extensive library to research next year's debate topic which is on poverty. And all the books will continue to give by becoming a permanent part of our school library. Our school does not have the luxury of providing us with a debate budget, let alone buying us books just to research debate topics. And the public library in the bronx has only a couple books on poverty, and so your donation provides us with resources to close the achievement gap. And I think next year's topic is going to be an incredible motivation for many more students to join the debate team because the vast majority of our student population are eligible for free lunches. In fact the South Bronx is one of the poorest congressional districts in the nation. Most of the books we asked for center around the settlement house movement, Jane Adams, Dorothy Day and other activists who devoted their lives to social justice issues. And that is the theme of our school - The Bronx School for Law, Government and Justice, and so the resources that you have helped to donate will greatly help us to meet this mission. Once again, thank you so much!
Reviewed the project essay and sent follow-up questions if needed.
Amani A. (volunteer)
on May 21, 2009
Verified the cost of the requested books and posted this project.
John C. (associate)
on May 22, 2009
"I am aking this donation in loving memory of my mother Olga Graham, who taught elementary school in the Bronx for many years. I funded your debate supplies project and am inspired to keep supporting your great team. This sounds like a very important topic coming up!"
gave
on Jun 21, 2009
"Thank you so much for supporting the debate team! Interestingly enough - I'm from the East Bay too and that is where I learned debate from my high school teacher! Born and raised in San Lorenzo Ca and attended school in Union City at James Logan High School. Mr. Lindsey who has now built an incredible, nationally ranked speech and debate program was my high school teacher and one of the people who most impacted my life. And so now as a teacher I try to pay it forward what I learned from him. My parents are also elementary school teachers in Union City for the past 25 years and they are the ones who got me into teaching the first place.
So thank you and your mom for making a difference in the Bronx. It is an incredible topic for next year and your donation will allow our students to learn so much and impact so much.
If you're interested in weekly updates on our debate team when the season starts back up in the fall, let me know, or send an email address. There's a handful of donors that I send a weekly update to and a monthly newsletter regarding our debate team to keep them up to date with our kids' achievements. Thanks and have a wonderful summer!
Thanks!
Erik"
The teacher Mr. F.
on Jun 21, 2009
Prout Family
from New Orleans, LA
gave
on Jul 4, 2009
"We provided DonorsChoose.org with matching funds for projects that improve college readiness. We believe that when all people in the United States have the opportunity to develop their talents, our society thrives."
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Amani A. (volunteer)
on May 21, 2009
