Seventeen Memphis City Schools and about 170 students competed in the Memphis Urban Debate League’s High School Debate Championships at Christian Brothers University March 12-13.

(left to right) Onester Jones, 12th grade, and Tyrone Colbert, 9th grade, both from Memphis Health Careers Academy, are on the receiving end of debate points being made by Katrina McCrackin, 9th grade, and Toni Walker, 9th grade, both from Ridgeway High School. (Photos by Shirley Jackson)

Paris Wilson and Quincy Threatt (right) of Whitehaven concentrate on preparation.

Melissa Swauney of Wooddale High School wants to see the documents of facts presented by Paris Wilson of Whitehaven High School during a debate encounter.

Verbal volleying was in play on the intensely researched topics of “Block Grants,” “Immigrant Health Care” and “Katrina.” Student teams had 64 minutes to persuade a judge that they had made the more convincing argument.

“Debating is an opportunity to learn, explore and grow from experiences of real world situations,” said Toni Walker, a ninth grader at Ridgeway High School. “It has helped build my vocabulary, self esteem and generated a passion about the subject in which we are discussing.”

Tyrone Colbert, a Memphis Health Careers Academy ninth-grade student, said, “I got wisdom in the sense of global economy and what ‘Block Grants’ are used for. Debating is an exciting, exhilarating and nerve racking positive experience.”

Oakhaven High School Debate Coach Fred Bailey said participating in debate had helped one of his students deal with a speech impediment.

“I have noticed now (that) the impediment has been minimized. Conduct and grades have also improved. I think debating is a wonderful opportunity for our children. It has improved their speaking ability and given them confidence.”

Sarah Wandrey, executive director of the Memphis Urban Debate League, said debate students often demonstrate enormous personal growth.

“Some have problems with anger, shyness and dealing with social situations. We see students coming into the debate competitions who have trouble reading and analyzing. Over the course of the year, reading and analyzing becomes easy for them,” Wandrey said.

“The students develop social skills where they are able to present themselves, complicated ideas, and deal with emotional situations in an adult fashion. Quantifiable and statistical evidence shows that debating has a causal relationship to dramatically improve the chances that students will go to and attend college.”

First place winners in the varsity division were Keenon Fox and Amber Robinson of Overton High School. The second place winners were Bianca Bryant and Shonterrio Harris of Raleigh High School. Both teams will compete in the Chase Urban National Debate League in New York City, April 23-25.

In the junior varsity division, first place winners were Maria Oceja and Jessica Nedders of Craigmont High School, and the second place winners were Tojuan Reed and Christiane Porter of Ridgeway High School.