Marshfield speech and debate team tells board program builds research and public-speaking skills

Members of Marshfield High School’s speech and debate team and their coach spoke to the Coos Bay School District 9 Board about how the activity supports research, speaking and presentation skills and requested community support for tournaments and judging.

Coach Josh Sharman introduced four students who spoke about the program’s components: mock congress (Charlie Hatch), acting/interpretation (Ty Belzer), speech events (Felicia) and debate (Wade Hawker). Students described how events differ — for example, mock congress asks participants to draft and debate laws, acting events use published material and require an introduction, and public forum debate is a partnered event. Multiple students said the program strengthened their research and communication skills; Dr. Ainsworth and other board members noted that those skills align with AP Seminar and other district goals.

The students said the team competes locally and nationally, with examples including trips to state and a national tournament in Iowa. They asked for volunteer judges for local tournaments and said the team sometimes hosts events that require outside judges. The coach and students said the district runs both a class and a club, and the district also has a middle-school program that feeds the high-school team.

Board members and administrators praised the presentations and asked logistical questions; the board encouraged community members to volunteer as judges at local tournaments.

The coach and students encouraged the board to support continued program access, noting participants gain transferable academic and social skills.