NATIONAL SPEECH AND DEBATE EDUCATION DAY
The First Friday in March is National Speech and Debate Education Day to prepare students to do more than speaking publicly. Through the support of coaches and teachers, students learn the skills vital to success in future careers and everyday decision-making. The ability to conduct thorough research, construct intelligent arguments and receive constructive criticism produces assured citizens able to collaborate and communicate their ideas in effective, even eloquent ways.
#SpeechAndDebateEducationDay
The observance encourages communities to show the coaches and teachers support for their hard work and dedication. They spend long hours preparing and helping the students after the school day has ended. These sessions often occur after their workday has ended and before they have even been home to their families. Speech and Debate coaches spend as much time as athletic coaches preparing, studying rules, reviewing speeches, pairing teams, making changes, students’ work, traveling, judges, and hosting events.
Speech and debate education prepares students for future careers as well as serving their community. It helps them with critical thinking and analysis of facts. Another quality that speech and debate instills in students is confidence. As with many school activities, speech and debate helps to inspire confidence in students one speech and debate at a time. Through research, practice, and increased difficulty, they master a variety of topics, all of which benefit them in the greater world that awaits them.
HOW TO OBSERVE SPEECH AND DEBATE EDUCATION DAY
- Find out more by visiting SpeechandDebate.org.
- Explore the opportunities for Speech and Debate in your school.
- Students who participate in Speech and Debate inspire others to confidently present their ideas.
- While motivating others, they find the confidence to be leaders and support each other to engage in a contest of words and thoughts. They won’t regret it!
- Find out more by visiting SpeechandDebate.org.
- Visit the National Day Calendar Classroom for projects and ideas to help you Celebrate Every Day!
- Support your local school’s Speech and Debate teams and use #SpeechAndDebateEducationDay and #WeAreSpeechAndDebate to share on social media.
NATIONAL SPEECH AND DEBATE EDUCATION DAY HISTORY
The National Speech & Debate Association (NSDA) founded National Speech and Debate Education Day to recognize and celebrate the positive impact speech and debate activities have on schools, students, organizations, and their communities. In 2016, the United States Senate passed a resolution declaring March 15, 2016, to be National Speech and Debate Education Day. In 2017, the Senate passed the resolution declaring the day to March 3, 2017. Both resolutions were co-sponsored by Senator Charles Grassley and Senator Chris Coons. In 2018, the date was set for Friday, March 2nd. The latest resolution declares the first Friday in March as the celebration date.
Speech and Debate FAQ
Q. Is debate and speech competitive?
A. Yes. Students compete against one another and are judged for their performance.
Q. Is speech and debate a creative event?
A. Yes. There are many creative opportunities in speech and debate competitions. Speech and debate teams also approach today’s most important subjects. For example, students can choose a humorous category or they can debate government policy. Find out more at speechanddebate.org.
