RIP, college debate
Who needs research? Weaseldom has entered the realm of college debate teams, under the name of "performance debate".
The rebels' bag of tricks hinges on a simple rule: Everything in debate is debatable, including the rules of debate....
Then Warner had an epiphany. "We're going to debate issues of race no matter what the topic is," he declared. That led to replacing scholarly evidence with quotes from "organic intellectuals" such as rap singers.
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"Traditional debaters say the only evidence that matters is library research," he said. "We say personal experience is equally important." Bruschke points out that Aristotle ranked emotion equal to logic as a tool in seeking truth.
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Performance teams "have pretty much started to ruin traditional debate and what it offers students educationally," said Ken Sherwood, director of forensics at Los Angeles City College.
In the past, debaters had to research both sides of an issue. "It taught students there's always another side and it forced them to understand the opposition," Sherwood said. "If you do that, you're better able to defend your own perspective."
In contrast, performance squads focus on personal stories and theatrics that often have little to do with the topic, he said.
Well, why not? There is no truth, you know. And we have to prepare out students for the brave new world of the Internet.
Comments
Posted by: jeffrey smith
Posted on: December 14, 2006 10:33 PM
This isn't a sign of the Internet age. This is a sign of the news-as-entertainment. These kids have grown up seeing news presented for its entertainment value, not its informational value.
But the ones who should really get slapped on the head are the judges who allow this rubbish.
BTW, since Bruschke doesn't believe in library research, does that mean he personally heard Aristotle say that emotion is equal of logic?
Not that I like the idea of speedtalking. Alas that Mrs. Radow (my old English teacher and debate coach in high school) has gone to the great Tournament in the Sky.