More than a dozen debaters from 5 public high schools across the city converged on Lexington Market Saturday morning to present a public debate on education. The event is part of Public Debate Month in Baltimore, in which the twenty high schools in Baltimore are debating in their schools, on the radio, on street corners, and in city hall.
Recalling a bygone era where “stump” speeches were a common form of entertainment, the high school students spoke passionately about topics that are often discussed without their voices being heard. The debaters attracted the attention of more than 50 passers by with speeches that dealt with the recent vote by teachers that will result in further layoffs, deteriorating school conditions, increasing class size and other issues that concern them. These debaters did not simply focus on problems but presented solutions to the most pressing issues facing our city.Andreas Spiliadis, coach at Forest Park and organizer of the event, concluded by stating that, “the discussion over the future of education must include our students.” Observer Mary Beth Hanson commented:
“While it was very exciting to see that high school students are intensely aware of what’s happening, it was also heartbreaking to hear kids expressing dismay over the state of their schools. However, what tempered the heartbreak was the kids’ willingness to confront the issue, and present their thoughts, opinions, and feelings at Lexington Market to a crowd of strangers. Even more exciting-people listened.”
The debate was sponsored by Forest Park’s debate team, Lexington Market, and the Baltimore Urban Debate League in partnership with Towson University and the Baltimore City Public School System. Throughout Febuary, Towson University faculty and students will be working with high school students to conduct public debates. Debaters will be focusing on issues relating to education and to Black History month. Highlights include a debate at Frederick Douglass high school this Thursday at 6:00, a debate on WYPR 88.1 FM at 1:00, and at City Hall on February 27th at 5:30.
For more details, including texts of speeches, pictures and a full calender of events this month, visit {http://www.budl.org}. For more details, contact Chris Baron at 410-704-2969.
