Huntington Debate Club Argues it Out

Don’t get in an argument with any of the members of Huntington High School’s Debate Club. These teenagers are expert at formulating and articulating their opinions. They think quickly on their feet and they can rebut anyone on any topic.

“The debate club meets every Tuesday after school,” said social studies teacher Debora Balducci, who serves as the organization’s faculty advisor. “We have spoken about a variety of topics this year. Some include: Should School Uniforms be Mandatory? Are Zoos Ethical? Media Censorship and Social Media’s Impact on Health. We have welcomed many new members this year and we look forward to continuing to have many more join. All are welcome to come in and speak their mind.”

The club’s officers include David Goldstein (president), John Joyce IV (vice president), Ludo Cattano (corresponding secretary) and Nicolas Francis (recording secretary).

“Debate club is going well and I highly recommend others participate in it,” Mr. Cattano said. “You can come to any debate you are interested in without it being mandatory. We have interesting topics weekly.”

The American Debate League believes students who participate in debate clubs reap the following benefits:

• Develop excellent oral and written communication skills.

• Develop excellent critical thinking skills.

• Develop effective tools for research, organization and presentation.

• Develop strategies to overcome fears of public speaking.

• Discover the confidence and desire to participate in all academic classes.