Middle School Public Debate Program

East Coast High School Public Debate Program

Welcome to the ESU East Coast High School Public Debate Program!

click to REGISTER for 2023-2024

2023-2024 Tournaments

- Saturday, November 18: Applied Technology High School
- Saturday, December 9: Hackley School
- Saturday, January 20: Dwight School
- Saturday, March 9: TBD
- REMINDER: EACH SCHOOL MUST PROVIDE ONE JUDGE FOR EVERY 2 TEAMS.
  TOPICS for the DECEMber tournament
- Ban Charter Schools
- Eliminate the presidential pardon power
  
  TOPICS FOR THE NOVEMBER TOURNAMENT
- Washington D.C. should be granted statehood
- Abolish the Electoral College
2022-2023 Tournaments
Saturday, December 10, 2022 at Hackley School
Saturday, February 11, 2023 at Dwight School
Saturday, March 4, 2023 at Horace Greeley School
Championship Tournament April 2023 (Date & Location TBD)

REMINDER: EACH SCHOOL MUST PROVIDE ONE JUDGE FOR EVERY TWO TEAMS.

past Topics

- The UN should have more power to enforce international laws and regulations.

- The United States should adopt a nationalized education system.

- The Biden Administration's Student Loan Debt Relief Plan does more harm than good.

- New York State should not ban the sale of gas-powered cars by 2035.

- End Presidential Executive Privilege!

- CRISPR/Cas9 will do more harm than good.

- All currently illegal drugs should be legalized, regulated, and taxed.

- The US federal government should regulate cryptocurrency.

Impose term limits on the US Congress

- Cancel culture does more good than harm.

- Abolish the CIA!

Additional impromptu topics will be selected from current events & enduring ethical controversies

Tournament Format & Schedule:

The tournament will consist of four rounds.

Two of the rounds will cover two pre-announced topics (usually announced about four weeks prior to the event) and two rounds will include two extemporaneous motions for debate. Impromptu topics, drawn from current events and notable public policy issues, are announced twenty minutes prior to debates. Pre-announced and impromptu topics can be in any round order.

Rounds three and four are power-matched and at some tournaments (time permitting) we will have a final public debate between the top two teams on a third extemporaneous topic.

Please note: the timing of the East Coast tournaments will start at 8am and the West Coast tournaments will start at noon.

Tentative Schedule for the Day

Time	Activity
8AM - 9AM	Registration
9AM - 9:30AM	General Assembly and Welcome
9:30AM - 11AM	Round 1
11AM - 12:30PM	Round 2
12:30PM - 1:00PM	LUNCH
1:00PM - 2:30PM	Round 3
2:30PM - 4:00PM	Round 4
4:00PM - 4:30PM	Break/Coaches Meeting
4:30PM - 5:00PM	Publice Debate Finals
5:00PM - 5:30PM	Awards