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SSDS: Halverson pt. 3, my final ans.
What is a Novice? What is recruiting from outside of our activity?
Are the aforementioned important in the future of debate?
These are the final issues which I will attempt to clarify.
On 18 July 1997 01:59 hiro@feist.com wrote:
"Not in the trenches, huh? Ask Derby High School if I wasn't in the trenches
for them all year last year. Even though I quit at the beginning of first
semester last year, I did everything in my power to expand the activity
around here. I coached at my alta mater. I helped them
construct arguments, cut cards, and do all of the usual things. I judge a lot
of rounds on the high school topic and suggested how every debater I judged
could get better. Granted, sometimes my job prohibited me from doing some
things, but that's all I did was promote debate, esp. collegiate debate, to
all of the high schoolers that debate around here. I promoted the
activity to true novices."
My final response on the subject, hopefully sinking in this time:
What am I referring to when I say "true novice?" This goes to the central
theme of what my posts have centered on. Getting people into the activity
which have NO EXPERIENCE WITH FORENSICS COMPETITION. I admire that Mr.
Halverson spent so much time working with H.S. forensics, I commend him,
and do not suggest that he change that; in fact, I encourage others to do
so much. What bothers me is the implicit assumption that this is the only
way to expand, coupled with the assertion that these are the "true novices".
I believe that debate can be of tremendous educational value to the student
with NO PRIOR EXPERIENCE as well. That's who I'm talking about when I say
"novice." What we seek is a structure which makes it easier for these
novice's to adapt. I don't have a problem with the research for myself,
hell that's what I'm doing up at 3 in the morning now is researching.
What I have a problem with is the number of students who will NEVER
experience debate because of the structures which overburden and discourage
them. This is what I can't tolerate. I hope that this has finally
become clear.
Fighting to expand debate to all students, not just the elite
Bob Alexander,
SSDS
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