Clockwise from top left: First place team from South Orangetown, NY; 2nd place team from Eastern MS in Greenwich; debaters from Westfield Academy

By Jennifer Posner, CTMSDL

The CT Middle School Debate League held its largest tournament to date on Saturday, December 1, 2018, at Seymour Middle School! Two hundred seventy-two debaters from twenty-two schools combined into ninety-six teams to debate the motion: This House would allow incarcerated felons to vote. 

Proposition won 56% of the 144 rounds. The team of MacDonnell, Fowler & Tobin from South Orangetown prevailed on Prop on a 3-2 decision over the team of Chang, Grover & Schaumburg from Eastern Middle School (Greenwich). Full results can be found on the CTMSDL website.

Many thanks go to the Seymour coaches: Harvey Catlin, Carol Wood and Jennifer Monaco. Thank you to the many High School debaters who not only judged all day long but also ran Debater Workshops and Games. Thanks to all of our coaches, parents and supporters who judged and tabbed and served pizza and essentially made the day happen. Thanks to the English Speaking Union, Greenwich Branch and Director Robert Whitby for their generous support.

The next tournament will take place at Bethel Middle School on Saturday, January 26, 2019. Please note this is a location change. The January 26 motion will be: This House, as the United States, would ban hate speech.

Keep checking the Civics First website for more information about its May Policy Debate tournament for middle schoolers!