This article originally appeared on nj.com May 19, 2009
Robert Treat Academy's debate team was awarded first-place in the school division of the Jersey Urban Debate League.
The first-place prize was one of 14 awards the team took home from the league's awards luncheon on May 12 at the Paul Robeson Campus Center at Rutgers University-Newark.
The team participated in five debates over the school year, competing against 16 other schools in Newark. It was only the second full year the team has been part of the league.
"We are proud of our debaters," said Robert Treat Academy Principal Michael Pallante. "Winning first place after only two years in the league is a testament to the hard work these students and their coach have put into learning the art of debating."
John Feinstein, a sixth grade language arts teacher at Robert Treat Academy who coaches the debaters, said the students on his team improved as the year progressed.
"It's clear from the beginning of the season to the end what a dramatic difference it makes with some students," Feinstein said.
One student in particular had a long-standing reputation for being exceptionally bright, but quiet, Feinstein said.
"There was initial surprise that he even chose to participate in the debate team," Feinstein said. "But midway through the year, it was obvious he found his forum for expression."
That student, Nicholas Ayala, was one of five Robert Treat Academy debaters who won the Speaker of Excellence award in the beginner division and the only fifth grader from the school to take home an speaker award. Bruce Berrios, Taylor Leake, Austin Medina and Alejandro Sheppard, all sixth graders, also received Speaker of Excellence awards in the beginner division.
Also in the beginner division, Carols Rodriguez and Jailene Agosto, both sixth graders, won Speaker of Merit certificates. The two-person teams of Carolos Rodriguez and Katelynn Rodriguez, and Alejandro Sheppard and Nicholas Ayala won Team of Excellence trophies in the beginner division. The two-person teams of Bruce Berrios and Austin Medina and Jailene Agosto and Taylor Leake won Team of Distinction awards in the beginner division. All the students are in sixth grade with the exception of Nicholas Ayala and Katelynn Rodriguez.
In the experienced division, Danay-jah Baxter, a seventh grader, won a Speaker of Excellence award while the two person team of Danay-jah Baxter and Brittney D'Oleo, also a seventh grader, won a Team of Merit certificate.
"What really made the difference with some pairs is that they worked in tandem," Feinstein said. "They shared research, they used their time wisely during the meetings and worked on their own time. They even made special arrangements to get together after school to practice."
The final debate was held at the First Avenue School on March 31 when students debated the merits of the government increasing incentives for biofuel development.
Feinstein said the students do not know beforehand what position they are taking in the debate and must be prepared to defend either side of the argument. Preparing for the debate is a great way to apply skills learned in the classroom, he said.
"It provides practice in research methods such as using the internet to gather background information as well as their evidence," Feinstein said. "They have to use that evidence to support arguments they make. Conversely, they have to be able to recognize and 'clash' against their opponents' arguments and evidence with their own counter arguments and evidence. It's not a volley of opinion."
Adrianne Davis, the executive director of the North Ward Center and the vice president of the Robert Treat Academy board of trustees, said the students should be proud of their accomplishments.
"These students worked hard and were well prepared for the competition," Davis said. "It's a great honor for the Jersey Urban Debate League to recognize them with this award."
