Our High School Elective Program gives students the chance to learn debate as part of their regular school day, using a year-long Public Forum curriculum developed by NYCUDL that builds skills in argumentation, current events, and civic reasoning.
This month, students gathered at the NYCUDL office for a culminating tournament, where they put those skills into action by debating both sides of mass surveillance — weighing privacy and civil liberties against national security and public safety.
Huge thanks to Paul Ward, our Program Coordinator, who oversees this program and makes opportunities like this possible. We’re excited to keep the momentum going with the launch of Debate II, our second-semester curriculum, which students will debate for the first time at our May tournament.