South Hagerstown High School Debate Club

We've had to reschedule the semifinals due to scheduling conflicts. We will now have the semifinals on Tuesday, May 24 after school starting at 3:35.

The Tournament of Champions Semifinals will be Thursday, May 19 during first period in Mr. Poling's room.

In the first semifinal, Manny will face off against Mya. In the second, John takes on Ethan.

Here are the topics:

Semifinal I: High school African American students are suspended at a significantly higher rate than their white peers. The school system must remedy this discrepancy. Manny argues the affirmative.

Semifinal II: The SATs are still culturally biased against minority students and should not be considered as criteria in college admissions. Ethan will argue the affirmative.

Results from 4/27 debate:

Ethan d. Mya
Ethan d. Vincent (tiebreaker)
Stephen d. Israel

Special impromptu debate
Mya d. Vincent (tiebreaker)

Ethan and Mya will join Manny and John in the Tournament of Champions.

Stephen and Israel will debate, too.

Israel will argue the affirmative: The United States was not truly neutral during the first three years of World War I.

We have one more debate added:
Mya vs. Dai Bao
Imperialism was a noble and justified enterprise by Europeans

If anyone else wants to debate next week, see Mr. Poling.

We have two debates schedule for the 27th so far. If you want to participate, see Mr. Poling.

Hannah vs. Xavier
The extreme violence of the French Revolution was unjustified

Ethan vs. Vincent
Because humans have practiced slavery way longer than they have not, slavery should still be considered a justifiable enterprise

Our last regular debate competition will be Wednesday, April 27. We are going to be doing historical debates. See Mr. Poling starting Monday to get your topic if you want to participate.

After this competition, we'll know whether it's Hannah or Xavier joining John, Manny and Ethan in the Tournament of Champions.

Here is the up-to-date standings for the race for the final spot in the Tournament of Champions. Ethan is guaranteed a spot either by winning season 3 or through cumulative points.

Ethan 3-0 with 125 points this season for a total of 315 points
Xavier 3-0 with 125 points this season for a total of 250 points
Hannah 0-3 with 65 points this season for a total of 240 points

I don't have the date set for our next and final regular season debate, but it will be an historical theme. Xavier and Hannah will debate to determine the final spot.

Current standings for season 3:

Ethan 3-0 (125 points)
Xavier 3-0 (125 points)
Mya 2-0 (100 points)
Hannah 0-3 (65 points)
Manny 1-0 (50 points)
Dai Bao 0-2-1 (77 1/2 points)
Israel 0-3 (65 points)
Stephen 1-0 (50 points)
Arturo 1-1 (50 points)
Vincent 1-1 (50 points)
Tim 0-2 (40 points)
Shane 0-1 (25 points)

Results for philosophical debates on 4/6:

Ethan d. Mya (pinch hitting), 5 1/2 to 5
Vincent d. Dai Bao (pinch hitting), 6 1/2 to 4
Xavier d. Hannah, 5 1/2 to 4 1/2
Mya d. Israel, 7 to 3

Due to several participants having conflicts today, we are postponing today's competition until next Wednesday, April 8. The schedule will remain the same.

The next debate will be Wednesday, March 30. We are doing philosophical debates. Here is the current lineup. If you're interested in participating, see Mr. Poling in room 1118.

We have no free will
Affirmative: Shane
Negative: Ethan

Nothing exists
Affirmative: Arturo
Negative: Tim

Humans have souls
Affirmative: Stephen
Negative: Vincent

Science and religion can't co-exist
Affirmative: Hannah
Negative: Xavier

Humans do not want to be happy
Affirmative: Israel
Negative: Mya