Dixon High Team Takes 1st Place In State Migrant Education Debate

DIXON, CA — Dixon High School students Amy Chávez, Alejandro Hernández, José Santos and José Hernández earned their second consecutive first-place win in the California State Migrant Education Debate Competition, held May 4 in Ventura County.

The federally funded Migrant Education Program provides educational and support services to migrant students and their families. For this year's competition, students debated whether the dual-immersion program is the best model to ensure success for English language learners.

The specific objectives for the competition were to gain a clear understanding of how to research a variety of high-level reliable sources, logically develop arguments to persuade an audience and develop critical thinking, lifelong interrogative skills.

"This accomplishment demonstrates the students’ determination, passion and dedication," said Dixon High School Spanish teacher Ligia Martinez, who coaches the students alongside fellow Spanish teacher Sergio Luna.

"Dixon High School honors their efforts to excel and champion the cause of bilingualism," Martinez said.