Bloomfield High School's freshman class and a contingent of students from Carmen Arace Middle School attended the NAACP's 11th Annual Great Debate in Bridgeport.
A debate team from Yale competed against Howard University's debate team. The Hartford Healthcare Amphitheater event was moderated by White House Correspondent April Ryan. It provided students the opportunity to learn more about the value of research, oral argument, civil debate, critical thinking and sportsmanship. About 5,000 students from around CT were in attendance.
The debate teams cross-examined the removal of teacher- certification exams in Connecticut, as well as the emergence of Artificial Intelligence - AI - in the music industry.
"Debates such as these, pitting an Ivy League school vs. a Historically Black College, show there can be highly competitive and compelling student-debates when both sides embrace the importance of preparation, research, team work and oral articulation,” said Bloomfield Public Schools Superintendent Dr. James Thompson, Jr., an HBCU alumnus. "Mastering debate skills instill confidence in students and helps to ready them for college and meaningful careers. Our recent Portrait of a Graduate conversations spoke to the importance of developing critical thinkers, who can read, write and speak well."
CAMS Assistant Principal Bobby Gibson said this is the second consecutive year that CAMS students have attended the debate and credited Principal Dr. Trevor Ellis and CAMS staff for their collaboration in planning the event.
“Our students were able to witness and experience an intellectual conversation that they will never forget,’’ Gibson said. “It was invaluable for our students to hear students from two of our nation’s top universities debate.”
BHS Principal Jesse White said the high school currently offers a debate class and applauded teacher Steven Carrier for organizing the freshmen’s trip to Bridgeport. BHS has also launched a debate club this year.