The Dayton High School Debate Team competed at the Region 4 University Interscholastic League Meet on Nov. 5. Approximately 50 students from the entire Region 4 Education Service Center area competed in the contest. The meet was held at Bellaire High School.
Student Congress is an individual contest in a large group setting. It models the legislative process of democracy, specifically, the United States Congress. Within this mock legislative assembly competition, contestants draft legislation (proposed laws and position statements) submitted to the tournament, and they research the docket of bills and resolutions dealing with real-word, social and political policies prior to the contest to prepare their speeches.
At the tournament, students caucus in committees, deliver formal discourse on the merits and disadvantages of each piece of legislation, and vote to pass or defeat the measures they have examined. Parliamentary procedure forms structure for the discourse, and students extemporaneously respond to others’ arguments over the course of a session.
The DHS Student Congress Team consisted of Devon Conyers, Trinity Yarbrough, and Alexander Brooks. At the conclusion of the preliminary session, debaters Devon Conyers and Trinity Yarbrough advanced to the final chamber. At the conclusion of the meet, Devon Conyers placed fourth overall and earned a spot as the state alternate.