Tri County Area League of Debate Clubs

Board of Directors

Re: Additional benefits of debate

My name is Patrick Grace, and my daughter Colleen participated in the Hartland Debate Club this year. She was very excited about this. Unfortunately, she did not win any debates, and became discouraged. She was the only student in 5^th grade; often competing with 8^th graders or more experienced debaters.

My wife and I told her she already won by just trying.

This year in school she attended a week long DARE class, helping kids "Say No to Drugs". In order to complete the DARE program, each student must write an essay and include a commitment to keep off drugs.

The students read their essays in front of their class, and one student was selected to represent their class at the DARE graduation. My daughter was selected to represent her class! At the graduation, in front of many parents and classmates, she read her essay wonderfully. She had excellent eye contact and vocal control. I immediately thought of her debate training. She learned these public speaking skills at debate!

So, Colleen did not win a debate, but she won a medal in front of all her classmates for her DARE essay. She was very proud, and loved to hear her classmates compliment her on her essay. I told her debate helped her get that medal. She agreed.

Thanks for having this program for our young students. If Colleen sticks with debate, by high school she’ll be unbeatable!

Sincerely,

Patrick Grace