Walpole students launch middle‑school debate team, hold first in‑house tournament
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Summary
Two Walpole High School seniors described creating a middle‑school debate club and running the district’s first in‑house tournament on Jan. 24; committee members praised the student initiative and the program’s plans for interschool competition on March 21.
Two Walpole High School seniors told the school committee they founded a middle‑school debate club to give younger students early experience in public speaking and competitive debate.
"It gave me the confidence to speak to a lot of people as I'm doing right now," said Tene Singh, a senior, describing why she launched the program and recruited peers to lead it. Ramu, a junior who will take over leadership when Singh graduates, said debate helped him think on his feet and express himself.
School staff and committee members said the students met with Principal Ruggiero and district staff last spring to propose the idea and secured teacher advisors. Committee members praised the pair for organizing an in‑house tournament on Jan. 24 that drew about 20 students in duo events with awards distributed.
Committee members and staff noted the student team is in contact with the Massachusetts Speech and Debate League and the Boston debate league to expand middle‑school tournament opportunities. The students said the next step is an external tournament scheduled for March 21.
The committee’s remarks focused on the educational value of early speech and debate instruction and the program’s role in building student leadership. No formal action or budget request was associated with the presentation.
Looking ahead, students and staff said they are working to create additional middle‑school competitions and to integrate judges from the high‑school speech and debate team to broaden the program’s capacity.
