About
Our high school debate program is one of the largest and most successful debate programs in the country. Our member schools have qualified and won top awards at every tournament from local tournaments to the National Tournament of Champions to the International Debate Championships. On any given weekend there are high school debate tournament opportunities for our students. We offer local, regional, out of state and national travel opportunities for our students.
Saturday Debate Tournaments
Each month we host a tournament for high schools registered in our league. There are 3-4 rounds of debate for each student. A guest speaker and award ceremony concludes the day where top debate teams, speakers, and schools are recognized. Each student receives ballots and feedback from each round.
Summer Debate Institutes
Our programs accelerate in the summer! From the first day of summer to the last day of summer, we offer summer debate institute opportunities for high school students at our Brooklyn, Bronx, Harlem, Queens, and Manhattan Debate Institutes. Each debate institute concludes with a debate tournament as well.
Public Forum Debate Division
Public Forum Debate is the newest debate event in the United States and now one of the most popular debate event. Each month a topic is voted on by coaches and students across the country. Students devote a month to study, research and writing on that topic. The focus is more on persuading your audience – rather than the heavy evidence focus of policy debate. Public Forum Debate is also unique in that it was founded to be easily accessible for the “public” so that any one can serve as a “citizen judge” and any student can be a debater. Public Forum Debate with monthly rotating topics provides students a broad exposure in current events and civic engagement. We offer three divisions of public forum debate: Beginners Public Forum Debate, Novice Public Forum Debate, and Varsity Public Forum Debate.
Upcoming Tournaments
April 13th Championship Tournament:
Location: TBA
PF League Topic: Resolved: The United States federal government should adopt a carbon tax.
National Topic: Resolved: The United Nations should abolish permanent membership on its Security Council.
Past Tournaments
March 2nd Tournament:
Location: Midwood High School
PF League Topic: Resolved: The United States federal government should adopt a carbon tax.
National Topic: In the United States, collegiate student-athletes should be classified as employees of their educational institution.
February 3rd Tournament:
Location: Online
PF League Topic: Resolved: The United States federal government should adopt a carbon tax.
National Topic: Resolved: The United States federal government should ban single-use plastics.
January 6th Tournament:
Location: Online
PF Topic: Resolved: New York City should stop implementation of the Subway Safety Plan.
Parli Topic: This House believes New York City should stop implementation of the Subway Safety Plan.
December 9th Tournament:
Location: University Heights High School
League Topic: Resolved: New York City should stop implementation of the Subway Safety Plan.
National Topic: Resolved: The United States federal government should forgive all federal student loan debt.
November 4th Tournament:
Location: In-Tech Academy
League Topic: Resolved: The United States federal government should establish a universal mandatory national service program.
National Topic: Resolved: The United States federal government should forgive all federal student loan debt.