Students take sides at Sandburg debates
By Ginger Brashinger For Sun-Times Media January 28, 2012 9:42PM
Engweri Cox, 16, (seated) and Danyal Bhutto, 15, take part in Saturday's debate competition. | Ginger Brashinger~For Sun-Times Media
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Updated: March 1, 2012 8:22AM
Lainee McGraw, director of debate at Sandburg High School, isn’t surprised the annual Sandburg Convocation of Eagles Invitational Debate Tournament has grown to 21 schools.
“I think more schools are realizing the importance of debate,” McGraw said Saturday. “These kids don’t debate from their hearts, they debate from their minds.”
More than 250 students, who entered the largest invitational debate tournament in the state, had to be at the top of their games for Saturday’s competition in Orland Park.
“They walk into a round of debates not knowing which side they’ll argue,” McGraw said. “The flip of a coin tells them which side they’re on.”
That wasn’t a problem for Andrew High School’s Danyal Bhutto, 15, and Engweri Cox, 16, as they planned their strategy against opponents Kelly Mack, 15, and Reema Saleh, 15, of Sandburg.
All came prepared with facts, figures and just a touch of emotion as they went at their opponents in rapid-fire fashion, trying to beat the clock and make their points for the judge.
“I love arguing,” Bhutto said, while Cox said she thinks it’s fun.
Mack and Saleh said they’ve learned a great deal from the topics they’re required to study as part of the debate team.
“I’ve gained so much knowledge,” Mack said.
This year’s competition had three levels: novice, junior varsity and varsity, all competing in both Public Forum and Lincoln-Douglas Debate categories from towns as far south as Granite City and as far north as Winnetka.
“As I look at the kids, they amaze me as to what they accomplish,” McGowan said. “One of my students said that by the time he finished high school debates he knew more than most 40-year-olds.”
First-time debate judge and 2010 IHSA Public Forum Debate state champion Angelo Cavoto, 18, said the debate team already has made a difference in his life.
“I don’t know where I’d be without it,” he said. “It’s definitely helped me get into college. I think I’m a step ahead of people who haven’t had the experience.”
That’s an advantage that Dan Barry, sophomore football coach at Marist, wants for his first-year Marist debate team. Barry said when he was approached by students who were interested in starting a debate team this year, he thought it was a good idea.
“It helps kids to develop analytical and communication skills,” Barry said.
McGowan’s prediction for a good day for Sandburg proved true. Sandburg teams made the final rounds at two levels of the Public Forum competition.
Sandburg’s Ted Lager and Josef Sabuda, both juniors, took first in the Public Forum JV competition.
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