By Samantha Simmons
Many students at Hartselle High School (HHS) have a passion for arguing and public speaking. Before this school year, there was no club to fulfill that desire for learning about and understanding current events and processing that into an individual opinion. Walt Shelton decided to change that.
Since he was a child, Shelton had a passion for debating his take on current events. After attending Alabama Boys’ State and Alabama Governor's school, he met amazing individuals that spoke of their school’s teams. Walt said, “They spoke of how much they enjoyed the speech and debate and how much it had taught them.” These conversations with other students gave him the thought of starting a debate team at HHS.
Olivia Patterson and Emilee Boster also helped in the making of the team, pulling in great ideas that would make Hartselle High School Speech and Debate a well known “powerhouse.” However, they could not do this alone; they needed a sponsor. Because Mrs. Cimino, an HHS English teacher, has personal experience both in being on a speech and debate team and in coaching one, she eagerly agreed to be the coach of the HHS team. When the team was introduced to the school, Boster was “amazed at the outpouring of student interest.”
Each of the nineteen students on the team pulls his or her weight to ensure a successful and competitive first year. Because interest varies throughout the group of students, there are different events for each individual. Members have a choice of debating alongside a partner or debating on their own. If one simply wants to share their voice, the speech portion of the team offers a ten minute self written speech on a topic of their choosing. There is also a competitive impromptu event in which students draw random words from cards and create a story to tell with those words.
Boster noted, “This team is great for anyone who wants to improve their speaking and writing abilities.” Though team members may be pushed out of their comfort zone, they will grow tremendously in their skills. Boster adds that even though the club has only practiced a few times, it is “already teaching me life lessons.”
The program's goals for this year are to maintain a good number of underclassmen excited about the idea of debating, which would ensure financial security for years to come. Shelton also says, “I hope to establish the team as a competitive powerhouse” by shooting for placing high at both District and State. Though winning seems to be the object of all of the tournaments, there is an alternative factor that is most important to Walt Shelton. He wants to “teach students in this event valuable life lessons” and how to”deliver a proper, civilized argument when debating in the future.” Whether they win or lose, each student participating will develop crucial public speaking skills that will help them to be successful in any career or direction they decide to take later in life.
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