Debate Team
The Minnehaha Debate Team is proud to participate in Minnesota’s oldest competitive co-curricular activity; Minnesota has been crowning high school debate champions since 1902. Our primary purpose is to honor God through the use of the intellectual gifts He has given. In addition, the educational purpose of the debate program is to sharpen students’ minds through the extensive research, critical thinking ability, and public persuasion skills required in competitive debate.
The Minnehaha Debate Team is open to all students at the Upper School and currently debates in the Classic Debate League, which offers divisions for novice, junior varsity, and varsity debaters. This provides for a competitive level of debate for all interested students, regardless of experience. In Classic Debate, each debater works with a partner to write speeches, find and compile evidence, and compete against opposing teams at debate tournaments. Our team typically debates at 6-8 weekend tournaments from October through early December, with the season split between two compelling topics.
The benefits of debating are many for Minnehaha students: increased confidence in their public speaking skills, enhanced analytical ability, better research skills, team camaraderie, and the satisfaction that goes with winning and learning at the same time!
Advisor
Nathan Johnson
johnsonnathan@MinnehahaAcademy.net