A new educational opportunity has come to Orange County this school year: debating for middle school students! The Orange County Debate League (OCDL) formed in August 2009 to meet the growing demands for debate in the Orange County area.
While debate organizations may be common for many high school and college students, the Orange County Debate League offers a wonderful experience for students starting in middle school.
The OCDL is a nonprofit organization for students in grades 5 through 8 who live in or near Orange County. Founded by Fairmont Private Schools teacher Benjamin Hughes, the league is intended to help foster student achievement in the fields of critical thinking and rhetoric. When forming the OCDL, Hughes had the help of several dedicated teachers.
Fairmont teachers Kristi Mead, Lauren Frazier and Denise Miller are all members of the OCDL administration. In addition, local educator Dierdre Dizon serves as the league’s tournament administrator. The league is the newest division of the Middle School Public Debate Program (MSPDP), a nationwide debate organization created by John Meany of the Claremont Colleges.
Currently, six Orange County schools are members: Heritage Oak Private School (Yorba Linda), Mission Hills Christian School (Rancho Santa Margarita), Beechwood Middle School (Fullerton) and all three middle schools from Fairmont Private Schools.
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