Kat Mulgrew

Three members of BSM debate team smile for the camera right before a big competition.

Debate teams “fly under the radar” when it comes to more mainstream school activities, but they have significantly impacted students and staff at Benilde-St. Margaret’s. Members of these debate teams are highly skilled in public speaking and winning arguments, especially compared to a typical high schooler. The skills and abilities acquired in debate can help shape professional and personal lives, but what exactly is debate?

At its core, a debate team is a group of students arguing about topics ranging from global warming to politics. Teams prepare to argue for or against a certain proposition, producing statements supported by proof and contradicting their opponent’s claims with skillful comebacks. For many students, the appeal for debate sprouts from its intellectual rigor. “I think my favorite part of debate is definitely tournaments and getting to go and compete against other people. There’s kind of an adrenaline rush in getting to argue with people and it’s like a competition or a tournament. It’s fun, it’s more engaging,” senior captain Kat Mulgrew said.

Skills gained beyond the classroom are another crucial part of debate. Students in debate develop strong research skills and learn to sift through massive amounts of information in a short amount of time, all while curating significant data to craft their arguments. Debaters rapidly increase their ability to handle themselves in front of a large crowd as well as their public speaking skills. In addition to these traits, debate can develop critical thinking skills and the ability to think quickly. “Being persistent with your arguments, and kind of having a lot of confidence, it’s just kind of the strategy to sound like you know what you’re talking about,” Mulgrew said.

As high school debate continues to grow and evolve, its role in shaping the next generation of critical thinkers and bold leaders becomes increasingly significant. The tournaments and arguments are not just for academics, but also crucial stepping stones for developing the talents necessary to be an assertive and strong leader and have a societal impact. With the ability to foster critical thinking and communication skills, high school debate plays an important part in preparing students for the challenges and opportunities of the future. “For some topics, it ends up being you just know what’s gonna happen, you know exactly where the argument is going to take you, and that’s not fun. It’s interesting to walk into the room and have no idea what the other person is going to say,” sophomore Juliette Scallon said.