St. John students argue their way to big finish

FENTON

 THE FENTON PRESS

Sunday, February 10, 2008

 By Bernie Hillman

bhillman@fentonpress.com • 810.766.6378

FENTON - In its second year competing, St. John School's team came out champions Feb. 2 of the Tri-County Area League of Debate Clubs, Team War of Words meet at Lake Fenton High School.

 The winning team:

 Ross Ebert, Olivia Nagel, Alex Nagel and Andrew Celini.

 The St. John team eliminated: Brittany Costantini, Shannon McDunnough, Raylin Pellatt and Nicholas Farella. Team coach and attorney K.C. Baran said the second team is not to be discounted.

 "They all worked together to ultimately accomplish this," Baran said.

 "Our kids were working for four weeks putting together their arguments and rehearsing them to the point they could do it well enough to sound convincing. They were able to practice against each other. Both had to be prepared for both sides, affirmative or negative. As coach we are proud of both teams," he said.

 Teams can be made up of students in grades 5-8. Baran coaches the eight fifth- through seventh-grade students on two teams of four, along with his wife Shari Baran and Cindy Carty, both Genesee County prosecutors.

 After three rounds of elimination competition with five teams, two from St. John, the champ was on top and Linden took second place, coached by attorney Chris Christenson. Other teams competing were Lake Fenton and Whittier Academy in Flint.

 Topics up for debate were: The NCAA should adopt a playoff system for the football championship; gill net fishing should be allowed; and federal education standards need to be more difficult.

 "They had some complex topics," Baran said.

 There were two, 4-minute constructions on each side then two, 2-minute rebuttals on each side, he said. The competition was judge Joe Hood, owner of Joseph Auto Group, Paul H. Scott, candidate for the state House, 51st district and attorney Rita Lauer.

 All students received medals and gained much more, Baran said.

 "They get skills in public speaking (and) skills in critical thinking," he said. "You're not just learning how to get up and speak, you actually have to think about what you are going to argue and what your opponent is going to argue so you can counter."

 He said the critical thinking they likely would not pick up until high school or college without debate experience.

 "This is something they are going to use the rest of their lives," he said.

 ***

Linden

Places Second in 2008 TWOW Competition

Team Members

Sydney Thomas

Erin Graham

Connor Messing

Coach

Attorney Chris Christenson

The winners of the 2007

Team War of Words Debate

are:

First Place

FENTON

(R. Lauer - Coach)

Lauren K.

Efrain S.

Max A.

Ryan G.

Second Place

LAKE FENTON B

(G. Morgan - Coach)

Alex S.

Gabriella G.

Madeline F.

Third Place

Lake Fenton A

(T. Brown & B. Krug - Coaches)

Alex B.

Corinne B.

Briona J.

Kacey P.