Middle And High School Students Form Debating Club

The idea for a debating club came from a parent of then Reed Intermediate School student Ayeshia Dholakia during a Rotary Club student of the month awards dinner last spring. Alpana Dholakia, mother of Ayeshia, posed the question to Newtown Middle School teacher Don Ramsey, asking whether a debate club existed at the middle school level.

As the two discussed the merits of such an activity, Mr Ramsey was inspired by Mrs Dholakia to explore the idea further. The result is a new debating club with 15 members at the middle school this year. Mr Ramsey and fellow teacher Diane Impastato are the faculty advisors for the club.

One of the participants, Abben Hung, shared the new activity with his older sister Biota, who enjoys debating activities at the high school. The debating club there is being resurrected under the leadership of social studies teacher Larry Saladin.

Along with the club president, Gavin Newton-Tanzer, debate club members Paul Garofalo and Biota Hung from the high school team are participating in interscholastic debate competitions.

Mr Saladin has offered the tutorial services of the high school students to assist the middle school students with debate principles and competition procedures. Together the groups meet jointly on a bimonthly basis at the middle school where mock debate sessions will be taking place.

Mr Saladin stated, “We see the future of our own club which is now in the rebuilding stage with the middle schools kids coming up the ladder. We are really excited to work with Mr Ramsey’s and Mrs Impastato’s students to create a future for interscholastic debate competition.”