Leagues Revive Debate in City Schools

This article describes how the National Association for Urban Debate Leagues is reviving debate competitions among high school students in city schools. Starting in Atlanta in 1985 and boosted by seed money from the billionaire George Soros' Open Society Institute, urban educators and their supporters in 2002 formed the National Association for Urban Debate Leagues. These leagues are now part of the 18 city school districts and involve more than 200 middle and 300 high schools serving largely poor and minority enrollments. By allowing students to compete in their own schools and move on to contests that fit their level of skills, these leagues have lowered the entry barriers for students wanting to compete in debates.