These kids win.

So, this morning, I got up (damn) early and went and volunteered to judge a high school debate tournament. A friend of a friend works for the organization, and they really needed help, and I was seriously sleep-deprived when she asked, so I didn't really think about the fact that it's finals period. But it was totally, completely, 100% worth it.

These kids were amazing. They were passionate and competitive, yet completely sporting. Most of the debaters that I judged weren't native english speakers, and all of them had trouble with the "big words" in the material they were quoting to support their arguments, but they spoke confidently and argued well. They spotted logical flaws quickly, pointing out their opponents' and correcting their own. They were very gracious to me as a brand-new judge and even took some time after the bout to chat with me about how much they like debating and why.

I was an athlete in high school, and I've got plenty to say (another time) about how well that experience help me prepare for higher education. But I was really impressed by how well this program blended "educational" and "fun." The skills these students are practicing: friendly competition, evaluating evidence, formulating an argument, speaking publicly, teamwork...that's the stuff they're going to need every day, in college and beyond.