Bellwood-Antis seniors in CHS debate class are preparing to put their skills to use in front of the entire school.

The class will be hosting the annual CHS school wide debates in the auditorium on March 11.

This event has become a big part of the Bellwood-Antis High School yearly calendar, now in its fourteenth year. The first year debates were held in front of the entire student body was 2013.

“I can still remember the excitement everyone had the first year we did this,” said Mr. Naylor, who has taught CHS debate since 2007. “Before that we did a big debate to culminate the year, but it was always in class. We would invite other classes to come in and watch.”

The class – Argument and Rhetoric – is  through the University of Pittsburgh  and students can earn college credit by taking it.

This year, there will be four debates between senior CHS students.

There is also at least one debate for prospective students, often coming from Mr. Partner’s AP English class or Mrs. Bartlett’s 10th Grade Honors class.

Mr. Naylor will create topics based off of the theme that is given by Pitt. This year’s theme is RESOLVED: “To become better human beings, individuals should pursue a partnership with A.I.”

The day will close with a panel discussion featuring all of the arguers.

The students in the CHS class have worked hard for this and to master their debate skills and, as it is the class’s culminating project.  The year begins with students spending the first nine weeks debate theory and the fundamentals of  debate before the class engages in classroom debates from November until March.

“I know they’re excited to get on stage and debate,” Mr. Naylor says.

Kevin Stiver said the experience of watching other students debate before him has him energized and ready to go.

“I’m excited to finally get to speak on the big stage just as I watched other people do,” he said. “I’m anxious to see how different the debate atmosphere will be with the large audience.”