Introducing our free Speech and Debate Program
Open to 6th-8th Grade Students in the Oxnard School District
Let your voice be heard.
Speech and Debate is usually reserved for privileged communities, but it does not have to stay that way. Led by local, state, and national winners with experience in mentorship, our Speech and Debate program aims to nurture critical skills like researching, public speaking, argumentation, critical analysis, active listening, and more. Students will be taught with completely student-made materials and curriculum.
Since 2023, we’ve held debate classes held every week at no cost to the student.
Class materials and dinner provided to all participants.
Speech and Debate
Speech and debate is a fun and educational activity where students learn to communicate effectively and express your thoughts and ideas in front of others. Whether it's presenting a project in class, talking about a favorite book, or even becoming a leader in the future, knowing how to speak well can help one express themselves and share their ideas with others.
Our Curriculum
Created and designed solely by VCEN, the curriculum is crafted to teach students the basics of speech and debate. Students will work through an 8-week long course where they will prepare to compete in a speech and debate tournament.
“When students participate in debate, they learn to study issues in depth and from perspectives, a skill I use everyday in the Senate.”
— Barack Obama, 44th U.S. President
Why Speech and Debate?
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Debate tests and builds that ability by forcing students to see both sides of issues. Debaters flex their analytical muscles, learning to find the weak points in opponent’s arguments. They learn to explain their own ideas and assess different viewpoints, whether in a debate round, a political discussion, a classroom, or a written essay. And debate requires students to research their ideas and support them with evidence, teaching them to conduct research and assess sources.
Stanford National Forensic Institute
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"Forensics club was good training for a lawyer in ways that I barely understood at the time. You not only had to see both sides; you had to prepare as if you were arguing both in order to anticipate your opponent's moves."
Sonia Sotomayor, Associate Justice of the Supreme Court of the United States and Speech and Debate Alum
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Among the highest risk students, 72% of debaters graduated as compared with 43% of non-debaters. The level of participation in debate (number of rounds debated) is a strong predictor of high school completion. Students who debate more, are more likely to graduate. All students who debated, including those at-risk, scored higher on the ACT and were more likely to achieve college readiness benchmarks in English, Reading and Science.
Chicago Urban Debate League, Educational Research and Reviews (2011)
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Public speaking is a critical skill for any career path, and there’s no better way to get comfortable with it than practice. Speech and debate gives students endless opportunities to practice their public speaking skills in classrooms.
Forbes
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"There is nothing better that prepares you for college other than debate. There is nothing better that prepares you for life better than debate.”
John Sexton, former President of New York University
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64% of U.S. Congress members competed in debate or speech in high school. Debaters are disproportionately represented in leadership ranks in law, business, and the academy. Thanks to the advanced skills debate has helped equip them with, debaters are poised to make positive differences.
National Forensics League
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After one year in debate, participants attended school more frequently, improved their GPA by 10%, decreased risky behaviors, and achieved a 25% increase in literacy scores.
University of Missouri, Kansas City study
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Participation in speech and debate provides the opportunity to engage in role-playing and discussion of scenarios, both of which may be especially helpful for developing strong social interaction skills. “Social skills can be refined by participating in activities such as drama, debate, and health classes”
Kentanji Brown Jackson
Associate Justice of the United States Supreme Court
“[Ketanji Brown Jackson] grew up to be a star student — elected mayor of her junior high school and president of her high school class, where she was a standout — she was a standout on the speech and debate team. And it was after a debate tournament that took place at Harvard when she was in high school that she believed she could one day be a student there. There were those who told her she shouldn’t set her sights too high, but she refused to accept limits others set for her.
Meet the Coaches
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James Miller
James Miller is a junior at Westlake High School and captain and founder of his school’s Speech and Debate Club. He is a two-time State and National Qualifier. In 2023, he championed World Schools Debate at the National Speech and Debate Tournament with his team, West LA Violet. He also won first place at the following tournaments this year alone: Chuck Ballingall Memorial Tournament, Jack Howe Invitational at CSULB, and Berkeley International. A nationally-ranked Lincoln Douglas debater, James has placed in late-round eliminations at multiple tournaments, including Stanford, Harvard, UC Berkeley, Duke, and Yale.
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Nelson Hu
Nelson Hu is a junior at Viewpoint High School and has participated in Speech and Debate for 5+ years. He is a state qualifier and was an octofinalist in Lincoln Doulas debate at the 2022 California State Championship. He’s competed in numerous state and international debate tournaments.
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Soren Jensen
Soren Jensen is a nationally-ranked Lincoln Debate who has placed first at many state and national level tournaments, including Jack Howe Invitational and Cal State Fullerton Invitational. Placing Top 16 in the nation in LD debate, Soren was one of only 3 in the district to qualify to compete at the prestigious National Speech and Debate Tournament in 2023.
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Janelle Batiste
A senior at Westlake High School, Janelle specializes in Parliamentary Debate. Among her many awards, which include finalist at Cal State Fullerton and semifinalist at the Philhistorian Invitational, Janelle was also a California State Qualifier in Parliamentary Debate. She’s reached multiple late elimination rounds and received Speaker Awards at Stanford Invitational and CSUF.
