Testimonials

When I transfered to Newark Vocational High School, I thought that it was going to be like all my other schools…boring. I thought that I could get by doing as little as possible or nothing at all and still get passing grades. It had worked in the past, sort of. I was forced on the debate team because my sister was on the team. My mother said that I had to take care of my little sister. So I began to debate and got hooked. Now I love to debate! And the best part about it is that I am gaining knowledge on something that I like to do. In my opinion, debate is better than any extra curricular activity because your reading, listening, and thinking skill just go straight thru the roof. Now I know the definition of fiat, substantial, establish, etc. My thinking level is higher now. Because of debate I can get myself out of any argument in the world. Debate is like the road to being a lawyer. You will learn how to speak to people, think of answers to anything, and make every thing common sense. I know that this experience will help me gain my career goal of owning my own business because I know how to do the research, analyze the information and make decisions.

Josue Arriaza
Debater
Newark Vocational HS

When I first came to Newark Vocational High School, my best friend told me that there was an after school program that was called the debate team. She told me that it was very educational, and it will help me in my reading skills. When I first join the debate team I was afraid because I had poor reading skills, but as time past by my reading skills got better and better. I started really liking debate because not only was it educational it was fun too. When I started seeing improvement in my reading skills, my grades started getting better and better. Debate also helped me talk properly, and it helped me express myself better. Thanks to debate my reading skills and grades have improved dramatically. Debate also gave me a chance to travel to places I never traveled to before. I got to meet new people. For example, last year I went to Washington D.C. had the time of my life. The tournaments and the traveling were a great experiences. For the last two years, my best friend and I have been partners which makes us a hard team to beat because we think just alike, and this makes us good debaters. Thanks to debate my knowledge of politics, the environment and foreign policy has become greater and know I know more things now than when I first started. I can hardly wait to see what next years topic is going to be!

Rebeca Arriaza
Debater
Newark Vocational HS

Initially, debate was just a stepping-stone in my career path. However the activity, which began as an extracurricular after-school program, engulfed me in a way I did not imagine. It excited me to be at school everyday and stay late to prepare for upcoming competitions. I learned to work hard, be organized and plan strategy. Not only have I developed tremendous self-confidence, but my speaking and critical thinking abilities have been enhanced. As a result of the skills I have acquired, I have become an effective leader and decision maker.

I owe so much of my life's achievements to my background in debate. This foundation has inspired me to accomplish so many goals in my past, as well as to reach for greater success in my future.

Jeffrey Dodson
ex-Science Debater

Teaching is my second career. As many "new" teachers find out, teaching is a challenging profession. It can be very frustrating, but it also can have many rewards. Many of the intangible rewards in my teaching career have come from being the UDL coach for an Alternative/Vocational school. To many people, the terms "policy debate" and "alternative or vocational school" are incompatible and mutually exclusive. Newark Vocational High School has begun to change people's minds on this subject.

The students have made the change for me. I recruited my first teams from the at-risk students in the Alternative program. Not one of them had a GPA of over 1.7, and their absentee rate was very high. When they were in school they were frequently in trouble. I asked them to try policy debate with the promise to them that if they gave it their best effort and didn't have fun I would let them quit. That was three years ago, of those original ten (10) students, eight graduated last spring 2004 and one will graduate 2005. One we lost to "the street". All ten students passed the language arts portion of High School Proficiency Test on the first try (nearly all had been socially promoted without passing or taking the Grade School Proficiency Assessment). All were accepted into college and those who can afford the tuition (with scholarship and grants) are attending and doing well. Two have made Dean's list in their first semester.

I would like to say that "debate" alone made the difference, but I can't. Debate gave them a reason to come to school, stay out of trouble and attend classes. Because of that they are gaining the skills in critical reading and listening, as well as research to achieve academically. The JUDL competitions gave the students an outlet for their penned up energy. As a teacher, there is no greater compliment than to have as student come to you and say "Mr. Hohl, I need to get back on the debate team because my grades are not what they could be."

Tom Hohl
Debate Coach and History Teacher
Newark Vocational High School

The Jersey UDL hosted a wonderful event last weekend, the East Regional College Bridge Tournament. More than 250 students attended, from five Eastern UDLs -- Newark, New York, Providence, Baltimore, and D.C. -- and about 30 UDL teacher-coaches were there. The event featured a UN tour and a college fair -- where 16 major universities were represented, passing out literature, talking to prospective students, etc. -- and included college access orientation for all students.

Participation was about evenly spread out among the five Leagues, as were competitive accolades. The debating that I saw was really very good, across the Divisions. Excitement at the Awards Ceremony was fervid, and the people I talked to at the event had a great experience -- students, teachers, alumni, administrators, parents. Mrs. Myra Alvarez from Rhode Island had this to say to me about the UDL. "It opened up my son's horizons. Debate brought him out of his shell. Now he thinks and talks differently. I see how much he likes it and how much it's done for him, and I want to show him I care about him so I've gotten involved in the UDL. I think it's the best activity for teenagers to get involved in."

This regional event was one that anyone could see was achieving important objectives for our young people. Congratulations to the Jersey Urban Debate League, and to its leadership, for administering the event so well. And congratualtions to all five UDLs participating: you all were very impressive.

Les Lynn
Executive Director
National Association of Urban Debate Leagues

Brent Farrand
Director, JUDL

Mr. Farrand,

As you will recall, I attended the JUDL's College Bridge Tournament as a recruiter for Princeton University on December 4, 2004. This event brought back many memories of my days as an aspiring high school debater on the Science High School Debate Team during the late 1970's and early 1980's. In observing these eager and energized students, I immediately noticed the diversity that existed in the competitors. There were male, female, black, Hispanic, white and Asian participants. It struck me that the tournament was occurring in the heart of Newark, New Jersey and participants from as far away as New England and the mid-Atlantic areas were in attendance. These students were engaging in the same type of pre-tournament activities that I observed other debaters engage in during my debate career. As you will recall, my experience was an early experience. There were no debate tournaments held in Newark when we started. We had to travel to other towns and states. The participants were not diverse. The debaters and coaches appeared to be surprised that students from Newark were competing in the tournament. They were even more surprised to see that we were black students.

I see that your work and commitment have eliminated the "surprise" factor. Your efforts have produced and continue to produce debaters who just happen to be from our urban areas. I met many of these debaters as part of the College Fair, and I am confident that most of these students will have successful college careers because of the skills you and your JUDL colleagues are helping these students to acquire.

Thank you for the opportunity to participate in this important event. I know first hand the value of the skills I acquired as a high school debater and commend you and the JUDL for enabling other urban students to develop the same skills. Please continue to provide this opportunity to students.

Steve Manley
Science High School 1982
Princeton University 1986
Rutgers, School of Law 1992

All my life I have tried to find something that I enjoy doing with others and I found out that it was debate. Debate has impacted my life in profound ways. It has changed the way I think about real world events, solidified my decision to major in communications, and become an activist. The intensity of this game is behind my imagination, and it seriously improved my writing, notes, speaking, listening, and partnership skills. This has ultimately allowed me to do better in school, as evident in my grade improvement. Through debate I came to the realization that if I want to achieve something I must be dedicated and determined.

Margarita Morales
Debater
Technology High School

When I first came to Newark Vocational High School, I was interested in getting involved in some kind of high school activity. Mr. Hohl, who is my debate coach now, was my ninth grade World Cultures teacher. I asked him about the debate team, without even knowing he was the coach he told me that I should join. What a coincidence!

I told my best friend Rebeca about debate and we discussed on whether or not we should do it. I heard positive things about the debate teams in Newark, and then I decided (along with Rebeca), that we were going to join the debate team. Mr. Hohl partnered me up with Rebeca and together we made extravagant improvement in everything. Debate has not only improved my vocabulary and expanded my knowledge on politics, but it has also got me involved with other things within educational programs. Not only that, but my grades improved tremendously. Allowing me to achieve a 3.oGPA and making the honor roll. All because of the structured study skills it has taught me.

Debate has also exposed me to new people and different places as we travel. For example, this past summer I went to Washington, D.C. for a Howard University Debate Camp, and now I have this as an unforgettable experience that has changed my life. Now I have life long friends who are also my debate peers. I am on the verge of a decision on which college or University I want to attend. I plan to major in Philosophy which debate has inspired me to do. As a sophomore my dream is to become the #1 team with my best friend and debate partner Rebeca. Together we will achieve our goals of getting into a first rate college and getting our degrees.

Endia Sharpe
Debater
Newark Vocational HS

I am a teacher and community activist in the city of Newark, and my name is Tariq Raheem. My primary goal in education is to empower youth with the skills and resources needed for them to be successful now and throughout life. To achieve this primary goal, I have worked with many educators, professionals, political leaders and the media, in many different capacities in the tri-state area for more than ten years.

Young people under my leadership have served on discussion panels and numerous projects that require them to speak out, and thus creating opportunities for media exposure in the Student Voices, the Star-Ledger, the New York Times, WBGO Radio, Cable Vision Television, ABC News, and several other local communications networks. However, out of all the opportunities for the youth to express themselves, I can think of no other institution that has had more impact on more of our youth today than the Urban Debate League of NJ.

Before the Jersey Urban Debate League very few of the students in the inner city had any exposure to policy debate. There was only one school from the inner cities engaged in this highly academic and competitive activity in the entire state. Currently almost every high school in our city has the support of the. The Jersey Urban Debate League has given my students fantastic chances to develop critical thinking and persuasive speaking skills that can be used in any profession.

I have worked with policy debate for the last four years and I have produced two teams from Technology High School that went on to national level competition, but more importantly, I have seen the interest in debate mushroom from just two students to a squad of twenty at my school. The pay off is when our students get high scores on the SAT and receive scholarships that are based on their academic success in not small part due to their work in policy debate competition. Another pay off is when graduates come back to help with teaching other youth. I call it the ripple effect of JUDL benefits. The benefits don't stop after the initial investments in the child.

If you are looking for the best program that is making a real difference improving the educational social systems of the inner-cities of America, New Jersey, and particularly Newar, you found it in the unique JUDL program.

Sincerely,
Tariq Raheem
Debate Coach and History Teacher
Technology High School

I write to comment on the outstanding work of the Jersey Urban Debate League.

I am the Edwin W. Lawrence Professor of Forensics at the University of Vermont. I teach courses in Speech Communication, most often Argumentation, Persuasion, Debate, Campaign Rhetoric, Issues in Public Address, and related courses. I am also the Director of the Lawrence Debate Union, an endowed co-curricular program that trains students to debate and then sponsors their intercollegiate debate competition nationally. I was President (1997-98) of the Cross Examination Debate Association, America's largest intercollegiate debating organization, and I continue to be the director of the World Debate Institute, America's largest summer training program for college debaters, last year attended by students from 15 different countries. I was named National Debate Coach of the Year in 1993, and East College Debate Coach of the Year in 1996. I have twice received the National Forensic League's National Service Award. In 2000 and 2001 I was the keynote speaker at both the first South Korean National Debate Championship and the first Hispanic Language Western Hemisphere Debate Championship. I received a "Lifetime Achievement" award from the Cross Examination Debate Association in 2001.

I have known of and worked with the JUDL from the time that it was merely a dream. The context of our association has included the following: we have hosted many JUDL students through the years at our summer high school debate program at the World Debate Institute at the University of Vermont, I have attended four planning conferences for urban debate leagues nationally where I worked personally with JUDL staff and teachers, I have visited Newark to see their work, I have worked with numerous JUDL students and teachers, and I regularly communicate with and advise Brent Farrand, JUDL founder and director.

Instead of a general description, I would like to highlight several qualities about this organization that might be useful to be aware of.

First, the JUDL is a dynamic and growing organization. It has been able to secure support from many community groups and the Newark school system in its mission to bring the life-changing experience of academic debate to students within its program. It started small but has continued to grow, adding new schools and new students to its rosters. The JUDL has recently expanded into promoting debate in middle schools, a vital step in helping students. Middle school students are at a point in life when they develop their self-concepts, their definitions of who they are, and debate is very useful for this process. Middle school students are also very much at risk of gang involvement, and an academic intervention like debate can be crucial to turn students towards a more productive course. I attribute much of this growth and dynamism to the outstanding leadership and professionalism I have seen from JUDL staff.

Second, I have been extremely impressed by the JUDL students I have worked with during the summer here at the World Debate Institute. They have been highly motivated, well prepared and extremely cooperative as they go through our very intense two-week training program, a program the New York Times has called a "boot camp for the brain." They have been evaluated very favorably by our faculty, which consists of top college debate coaches from around the nation. I have never had a discipline problem with a JUDL student. This is not to say that JUDL students do not have challenges ranging from problems at home to gaps in their normal secondary school education, but I have been impressed by the way in which these students bear the imprint of the JUDL - a determination to work hard to improve themselves and help those around them.

Third, the JUDL is a leader nationally in finding ways to use discourse and critical communication such as debate to improve the lot of students who are clearly at-risk. They have utilized the debate across the curriculum methodology to bring debating into as many classrooms as possible, so instead of studying history as a dry collection of facts students engage historical issues in an active and participative way that builds excitement and involvement. The JUDL has been a national leader in promoting debating activities for middle school students, and many other communities around the nation (Washington, DC and Atlanta are examples) have learned from them and followed their lead in this area. These middle school students then reach high school prepared to continue debating and continue their own personal journey towards a better future. In an educational climate where critical thinking and student engagement is too often not promoted, the JUDL is leading the way.

I have enjoyed working with the JUDL and would give them my highest evaluation.

There is more that I could say, but I hope these specific qualities give you a better picture of this organization.

Thank you,
Alfred C. Snider
Director of World Debate Institute

The NAUDL has long been wanting to visit Newark and the Jersey Urban Debate League (and there the Bull Frog). During the first weekend in February that trip finally happened. I had the honor of being invited to the East Side High School Mid-Hudson League Tournament, in addition to a series of meetings with schools and administrators before things there got underway on Friday.

We began the day with a trip to the Newark Public School offices for a meeting with Superintendent Marion Bolden. Ms. Bolden expressed strong support for the Jersey Urban Debate League. She said that she had great respect for the leadership that the Bull Frog had exhibited in extending the opportunity to experience the benefits of academic debate from his Newark Science base to every high school student in the system. She pledged to continue to do all that she could to back his efforts.

Unfortunately, Marion Bolden may lose her position. While I was in Newark, the School Board narrowly voted not to renew her contract at the end of this school year. Due to support that she has among teachers, parents, and community members, however, this matter might not have been decided finally. In fact, the JUDL is facilitating a re-examination of this hiring question (details available elsewhere on this website). In any event, my visit to the Newark Board of Education -- which proudly displays large framed photos of the leadership, and headlines announcing the achievements, of the JUDL - left me with the strong impression that urban debate has a solid base of systemic support there.

The Bull Frog and his very able assistant Sandra DeLeon next took Rachel Hurley of OSI (who was there on a site visit this same weekend) and me to the offices of the FOCUS Hispanic Center. FOCUS is the fiscal agent that administers the grant that OSI has provided the JUDL. We met Celia Dorantes Abalos, filling in for the CEO Casto Maldonado (who was tending to personal business out of the country), and Lucy Dominguez, the Chief Financial Officer at FOCUS. This is a community organization with deep roots in lesser-privileged neighborhoods in Newark, working on a variety of youth development projects, several of which in cooperation with the public schools. FOCUS is clearly pleased to be partners with the JUDL, a feeling evidently reciprocated.

We proceeded to a satellite office of the Newark Public Schools, one devoted to high school administration. Additional strong endorsement for the UDL here came from Benjamin O'Neal, Fred McCarthy, Carolyn Whitley, and Deborah Smith Gregory. This quartet had a chance to display its skillful support of the League, as a concern about buses for the next day's tournament was swiftly dispatched by a phone call or two. Of course budgets are posing a challenge, particularly for JUDL's expansion plans (which include a city-wide middle school program next year), and our meeting included some strategizing in this area. But there was no question about these administrators' core commitment to continuing to offer academic co-curricular debate to the students of the public schools. They deserve significant plaudits for this.

The day continued with trips to several high schools preparing for the weekend debate tournament. At Technology High School we met with an outstanding, dynamic principal, Mona Dana, who described her commitment to fully supporting teachers who were willing to work hard to provide worthy educational opportunities for "my kids" (as she called them). Her debate teacher/coach, Tariq Raheem is one of those teachers, she said. We walked up to his classroom to sit in on his debate course, during which the students recounted the reasons they debate and the excitement they felt about the upcoming competition.

We visited schools in East Orange and Orange, too, before returning to Newark. At Cicely Tyson High School we heard from debaters who were applying to Princeton, Columbia, and other nationally-prestigious universities. Debate had helped build their confidence, we learned. At Orange High School, Principal Samuel Hazel spoke forcefully about his commitment to excellence, not merely muddling through. He said that debate to him represented the opportunity that more privileged students took for granted, and that his students could leverage toward ascent into positions of influence and achievement. The students at Orange asked questions that revealed them immersed in the details of debate competition: the strategy and purposes of the rebuttal speeches, the way that judge training and screening is done and might be improved. It was a wonderful meeting, balm to the debate administrator. We ended the day at West Side High School, where the Bull Frog led a Seminar for students and coaches on the use of negative generic positions, particularly the States Counterplan and the Federalism Disadvantage. He also discussed generic affirmative responses to common Kritiks, and implored students to check the JUDL website in coming days for evidence updates.

The tournament at East Side High School actually began on Friday afternoon, for the Mid-Hudson League Varsity teams. For Novice and Junior-Varsity, the event began Saturday morning. Competition was exhilarating, involving schools from New Jersey, New York, Vermont, and Massachussetts. Tariq Raheem's intensive coaching paid off, as Technology placed among the top JV teams in a tight, closely-battled field. The New York UDL had a significant presence in the winner's circle in every division. The Institute for Cooperative Education (ICE) placed in the Novice Division Top Ten, as did the Manhattan Center. In the JV, Bronx Law, Hostos-Lincoln, ACORN, and Freedom joined Manhattan Center; it is fair to say that the NYUDL dominated this division. In the Varsity, the Manhattan Center cleared to the elimination rounds and won four top-ten speakers, though the final round was won by Burlington (Vermont) over Lexington (Mass.). East Side High School - particularly its wonderful debate coaches and the Tab Room Director Christian Oshiro - did an absolutely marvelous job hosting the tournament. The tournament atmosphere was friendly, efficient, and fair - all that one wants.

At the Awards Ceremony, the Bull Frog delivered an eloquent speech in honor of one of his first Newark Science Champion Debaters. Saith the Bull Frog: rhetorical skill is one of the most powerful tools in a democracy; it is the power to persuade others to agree with your point of view. All of us who are acquiring this skill by virtue of our participation in an Urban Debate League have an ethical responsibility to use this skill for the pursuit of social justice and equality, and the engagement with issues that our communities and the broader society face. The administration and leadership of the Newark Public Schools is clearly one such issue; the potential for war, the sources of public education funding, indeed the commitment to providing debating opportunities for high school students itself - these are clearly others. The Bull Frog's speech crystallized the long-term value and importance of the Jersey Urban Debate League and, representatively, the Urban Debate Network.

I thank the Bull Frog, his very able assistant Sandra DeLeon, Christian Oshiro, and all of the administrators, teachers, and students, for making my visit to Newark so rewarding and enjoyable. Your League is healthy and vibrant: I urge you to continue to commit to keep it so. And I very much look forward to my return visit to Newark next month for the East Coast Regional UDL Event.

Les Lynn
Executive Director
National Association of Urban Debate Leagues