THE OPENING ARGUMENT
WHY CIVICS AND DEBATE?
The proud American tradition of respect – in personal and political interactions – for free and unencumbered speech continues to be a gift left to us by our Founders and remains a uniquely American civic tradition.
America is becoming more polarized by the day. People dig into positions without fully examining them, and want to be heard but refuse to listen to others. The failure to engage in civil and respectful conversations with those whom we disagree is unhealthy for our constitutional republic and the democratic values we hold dear.
THE MISSION
The Florida Civics and Debate Initiative (FCDI) seeks to expand and enhance civic knowledge and reinvigorate public debate and civil discourse in Florida classrooms.
Florida has always been an innovator in education and continues to lead the way in civics education. The FCDI is committed to developing upright, virtuous and self-governing citizens who recognize and accept the responsibility to preserve and defend the blessings of liberty inherited from previous generations.
FCDI is the only statewide debate program of its kind in the nation. We’re excited to tell the story of FCDI and to offer a model for any state, district, school or teacher to establish competitive debate teams.
THE BENEFITS
OF SPEECH AND DEBATE
GREAT
DEBATES
Here are a few of the great debates that still serve as an example of what free speech is all about and show us the value of how civil discourse shaped history.
TIMELINE OF EVENTS
JANUARY 2019
Comprehensive review of Florida's standards
FEBRUARY 2020
JULY 2021
JUNE 2019
MARCH 2021
A call to emphasize
civic literacy
New ELA standards
adopted
The Civics Literacy Excellence Initiative
New civics and government standards adopted
ESTABLISHING THE FLORIDA CIVICS AND DEBATE INITIATIVE
EXAMPLE
SETTING THE
Since its inception, FCDI has developed over 400 new speech and debate teams in 67 counties, with over 4,200 student competitors; provided over 700 hours of professional learning to new debate coaches; and facilitated professional development to 425 debate coaches and social studies teachers.
In 2019-2020, 11,678 students in Florida competed in speech and debate. That number increased to 14,357 after year one of the initiative. In year one, the FCDI developed 59 new debate teams, with an additional 102 added in year two. Since then, the number of Florida school districts with competitive speech and debate teams has grown from 11 to now 67 and the amount of students competing in speech and debate has grown exponentially.
Comprehensive review of Florida's standards
THE CLOSING ARGUMENT
Competitive debate supports academic learning, builds character, teaches responsibility and draws out hidden talents in students. Students learn to be flexible and think quickly on their feet. Although there are rules and standards for judges to follow in competitive debate, communication is a subjective process. Students must adapt their arguments to win ballots from a diverse judge pool. The feedback students receive from judges helps them better understand how to frame the most effective message. This input helps build students’ high-level and critical thinking skills.
Research shows that participating in debate can increase critical thinking skills by 44%.*
According to Forbes, communication is the most universally important and indispensable leadership skill.
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Forbes identifies the six most important business leadership communication skills: written, verbal, presentation, non-verbal, cross-cultural and listening.
Debate uniquely supports and develops each of those necessary business skills.
Florida has led the way in strengthening civics instruction and education in Florida’s kindergarten through post-secondary schools. Florida has embedded strong civics curriculum in Florida’s English language arts standards and has adopted new civics standards and curriculum.
Education, built on a solid foundation of American history and civics, along with passionate teachers trained to develop debate skills, lead to independent and engaged citizens, and a better tomorrow.
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