No Argument Here: Hand Seniors Bring Back Debate Academy For Kids

MADISON, CT — These teens love to argue. But in the best possible way. And they're sharing their passion for debate on their own time as volunteers with younger students.

The two rising seniors at Daniel Hand High School began a free online debate program—The Shoreline Debate Academy—for middle school kids last summer in response to the pandemic. It was a success so Charlie McIntyre and Max Wu, both members of Hand’s debate team and student directors of the Polson Middle School debate team, have brought the debate academy back for 2021.

"Do you have a child that's a member of their school's debate team? Do you have a child that's looking for a new, rewarding activity to continue throughout middle school, high school and even college," the two varsity debaters asked last year.

The query this time is the same.

The free program run by McIntyre and Wu has the teens passing on their skills and knowledge through debate games, instruction about debate theory and practice debates. They say participants are "guaranteed to improve their debating skills, become more comfortable when speaking in public and make new friends."

The Shoreline Debate Academy is open to any interested middle school debaters in Madison and other shoreline communities.

McIntyre says the camp is a great opportunity for students to stay productive in the summer, connect with each other, make new friends, improve their debating skills, and improve their public speaking abilities."

Done via weekly Zoom meetings that begin July 28 and continue until Aug. 25, the Wednesday sessions are held from 3 to 4:30 p.m.

To join, parents should email chux2004@gmail.com with their name, the name of their child, their child's grade level, and any experience the child has had with debate.

McIntyre explained that each meeting will be split into two parts; during the first 45 minutes, he and Wu will teach students about debate theory.

“Specifically, we will teach students how to create convincing arguments, how to refute opposing arguments, and how to effectively organize time during a presentation or speech,” he said.

The remaining 45 minutes will be devoted to “fun, thought-provoking debate games that give students the chance to apply the material that Max and I teach them,” McIntyre said.

“Max and I are confident that this program will prepare students of all levels for middle school debate, high school debate, and any sort of public speaking that the students may encounter in the future,” he said.