Community and Communication
The Problem
High school students are more isolated than ever. 1 in 3 American teenagers suffers from social anxiety disorder, a condition strongly correlated with smartphone use. At the same time, our politics and society continue to grow more and more divided. Millions of Americans are trapped in social media bubbles that promote outrage and us-versus-them mentalities.
It’s hard out there for our nation’s students. But you can help.
The Solution
Debate offers a solution to both these problems. In debate, students are assigned to defend positions on both sides of topics — even those they might not agree with. Because of this, they learn to see issues from multiple perspectives.
Debate competitions are in-person, structured, and social. Each debater has a partner and faces another two-person team from another school, with an adult from the community deciding the winner. It’s a unique opportunity for your debaters to meet other hard-working students from the greater Sacramento area.
So, here’s the question: are you ready to help your students build these communities and communication skills? Take our intake survey to see if your school is a good match for a SUDL-sponsored debate program. In less than 5 minutes, you could help put students on a path toward success.