• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
  • The Harker School
  • Menu
  • Admission
  • Preschool
  • Lower School
  • Middle School
  • Upper School
  • Summer
  • More
    • About
    • News
    • Alumni
    • Giving
  • News

  • The Harker News provides timely information, news and features about the Harker community to current and alumni Harker families.

  • |
  • General News
  • Preschool
  • Lower School
  • Middle School
  • Upper School
  • Alumni
  • Summer
  • In the News
Harker News

Harker Forensics Institute Trains Debaters

August 31, 2009 by Catherine Snider

Share this:

  • Tweet

This summer, students from various South Bay schools attended the Harker Forensics Institute (HFI), a special debate camp for students preparing for fall debate competitions.

“HFI is a two-week intensive study course where students self-select a debate area to work in,” said Carol Green, US debate teacher. “They came from throughout the region as this was the first year HFI had been opened to the Silicon Valley community.”

Students ranged from eighth graders to incoming seniors and from novice to varsity in experience levels. They received top-level instruction from some of the best coaches in the nation and region. The coaching staff included Green and fellow US debate teacher Steve Clemmons, as well Doug Dennis from Saint Francis High School in Mountain View, Paul Pinza from Westmont High School in Campbell and Sean Mumper from Presentation High School in San Jose.

The HFI also received help from 2009 graduates Raghav Aggarwal, Kaavya Gowda and Pratusha Erraballi, who served as assistant teachers in their respective fields and led lectures and lab sessions during the two weeks.

There were 41 students enrolled in the program divided among four events: Public Forum, Congressional Debate, Policy and Lincoln-Douglas.

“HFI gives students an extra edge during the competitive season because it allows them to focus for two weeks on their debate event,” Green said. “From specialized lectures to personalized feedback and coaching, students get the opportunity to try out different techniques in research and delivery that they may not get during the school year.”

However, HFI is also an opportunity for students to explore speech and debate even if they don’t plan to compete. “A number of students don’t have time during the school year to take a speech class but want to learn the research methods and argumentation techniques that forensics teaches,” said Green. Additionally, this allows students who may have communication apprehension the opportunity to explore public speaking in a more nurturing environment.

Because forensics is a collaborative event and one that is strengthened by the level of competition, it is important for students to get as many opportunities to improve themselves and their peers. “At HFI, we made sure our focus was practicum and education,” Green noted. While other forensics institutes spend a fair amount of time with the instructors watching the students do research and write cases, HFI is structured for students to take that work home with them and to do more hands-on learning in the classroom. Students brought their research and cases each day for critiques and feedback, but the goal was to keep the students learning throughout the eight-hour days.

“One of the reasons to open up HFI to the outside community was the hope of creating a larger sense of local community,” Green said. “There are a number of forensics institutes in the country, but very few are operated by high schools and for high schools.” By keeping numbers small and focusing on local students, the HFI organizers hoped to provide a camp that costs less than the for-profit institutes that exist while offering students a highly educational forensics experience.

This year, HFI had students from Harker, Presentation, St. Francis, Lynbrook, Saratoga and Palo Alto high schools. “While we hope to open up a few more spaces next year, our goal will still be to offer a personalized experience that prepares students for the competitive year but also for life,” Green said.

Related Post

PROJECT Trio ends Harker Concert Series season in fun-loving fashion
Shanghai World Foreign Language Academy students experience Harker during annual visit
Jennifer Gargano named for dedication as educator
In the News: January 2019
Homecoming, Grand Reunion and Picnic Come Together for a Historic 125th Anniversary Weekend
Harker’s 125th anniversary micro site wins gold in prestigious CASE Awards
In the News: December 2018
Harker Speaker Series returns with appearance by Magdalena Yeşil

Related

Filed Under: General News, Schoolwide, Summer

Reader Interactions

Primary Sidebar

Search for Articles

Multimedia Features

  • Harker Research Symposium Video Earns Award
  • Into the Fringe: Conservatory Takes ‘Into the Woods’ to Edinburgh

Trending Stories

  • Grade 5 robotics team wins award for science projectGrade 5 robotics team wins award for science project
  • [UPDATED] Three seniors named Regeneron Science Talent Search finalists[UPDATED] Three seniors named Regeneron Science…
  • Harker plans move of middle school campus, phasing out of preschool programHarker plans move of middle school campus, phasing…

Subscribe to Harker News via Email

Enter your email address to subscribe to Harker News and receive a daily digest of recent posts.

Delivered by FeedBurner

The Harker Magazine

Published two times a year, The Harker Magazine showcases some of the top news, leading programs, inspiring people and visionary plans of the greater Harker community.

More Harker publications

About Harker

The Harker School is a private school in the Silicon Valley that has earned international recognition for its top academics, quality teachers and students' achievements. Founded in 1893, Harker is the largest independent preK-12 school in California, serving families of preschool, elementary, middle and high school-aged children on its four San Jose campuses.

Learn more about The Harker School

Links

  • Harker Aquila
  • Preschool
    • Academics
    • Specialty Classes
    • Teachers
    • Support & Services
    • Campus & Facilities
    • School Community
  • Lower School
    • Academics
    • Programs & Extracurriculars
    • Teachers
    • Students
    • Support & Services
    • Campus & Facilities
    • School Community
  • Middle School
    • Academics
    • Programs & Extracurriculars
    • Teachers
    • Students
    • Support & Services
    • Campus & Facilities
    • School Community
  • Upper School
    • Academics
    • Programs & Extracurriculars
    • Teachers
    • Students
    • Support & Services
    • Campus & Facilities
    • School Community
    • Admission
    • Summer
    • About
    • News
    • Alumni
    • Giving
The Harker School

Copyright © 1893-2015 • The Harker School • 500 Saratoga Ave., San Jose, CA 95129 • 408.249.2510 | Contact Us | Privacy Policy

  • Follow Us!
  • Admission
    • Request Information
    • Campus Visits
    • Applying to Harker
    • Tuition & Financial Aid
    • Admission FAQs
  • Preschool
    • Academics
    • Specialty Classes
    • Teachers
      • Teacher Directory
    • Support & Services
      • Extended Care
      • Food Progam
      • Libraries
      • Summer Preschool
      • Transportation
      • Safety & Security
    • Campus & Facilities
    • School Community
  • Lower School
    • Academics
    • Programs & Extracurriculars
      • After-School Program
      • Athletics
        • Coach Directory
        • Athletic Events
      • Character Development & Outreach
      • Global Education
        • Global Relationships - Sister Schools
      • Performing Arts
        • Performing Arts Teacher Directory
      • STEM
      • Student Research
      • Visual Arts
    • Teachers
      • Teacher Directory
    • Students
    • Support & Services
      • Food Program
      • Health & Wellness
      • Libraries
      • Safety & Security
      • Transportation
    • Campus & Facilities
    • School Community
  • Middle School
    • Academics
    • Programs & Extracurriculars
      • After-School Program
      • Athletics
        • Coach Directory
        • Athletic Events
      • STEM
      • Visual Arts
      • Global Education
        • Global Relationships - Sister Schools
      • Performing Arts
        • Performing Arts Teacher Directory
      • Character Development & Outreach
      • Speech & Debate
      • Student Research
    • Teachers
      • Teacher Directory
    • Students
    • Support & Services
      • Food Program
      • Health & Wellness
      • Libraries
      • Safety & Security
      • Technology
      • Transportation
    • Campus & Facilities
    • School Community
  • Upper School
    • Academics
    • Programs & Extracurriculars
      • Character Development & Outreach
      • Performing Arts
        • Performing Arts Teacher Directory
      • Athletics
        • Coach Directory
        • Athletic Events
      • Visual Arts
      • STEM
      • Business & Entrepreneurship
      • Global Education
        • Global Relationships - Sister Schools
      • Speech & Debate
      • Student Research
    • Teachers
      • Teacher Directory
    • Students
    • Support & Services
      • College Counseling
      • Food Program
      • Health & Wellness
      • Libraries
      • Safety & Security
      • Technology
      • Transportation
    • Campus & Facilities
    • School Community
  • Summer
    • Summer Preschool
    • Summer Camp Plus: KinderCamp
    • Summer Camp Plus: Grades 1-5
    • Summer Institute Middle School
    • Summer Institute Upper School
    • English Language Institute
      • Program Details
        • International English Language Institute Brochures
    • Swim School
    • Summer @ The Conservatory
    • About
      • Eligibility
      • Summer Jobs
      • International Families
      • Summer Registration and Policies
  • About
    • Contact Us
    • Philosophy & Mission
    • History
      • Harker's 125th!
    • Events
      • Family & Alumni Picnic
        • Admission Passes & Tickets
        • Alumni Guests
        • Schedule of the Day
        • Raffle
        • Silent Auction
        • Picnic T-Shirts
        • Donations
        • Sponsorships
        • Volunteer
        • History
      • Homecoming
      • Harker Concert Series
      • Harker Speaker Series
      • Harker Gala: Night on the Town
        • Community Sponsorships
        • Corporate Sponsorships
      • Harker Sports Clinics
      • Research Symposium
        • Student Abstracts
        • Corporate Exhibitors
      • Harker Alumni Gold Classic
    • Message from the Head of School
    • Board of Trustees
    • Facts & Stats
      • Student Achievements
      • Alumni Achievements
    • Sustainability at Harker
      • Nichols Hall: LEED Certified
    • Eagle Store
    • Staff Directory
    • Careers
    • Media Information
    • Privacy Policy
    • COPPA Statement
  • News
    • General News
    • Preschool News
    • Lower School News
    • Middle School News
    • Upper School News
    • Alumni News
    • Summer News
    • In The News
  • Alumni
    • Transcript Requests
  • Giving
    • How to Plan Your Giving
    • Annual Giving
      • How Funds are Spent
      • Gift Clubs
    • Capital Giving
      • About the Cornerstones Campaign
      • The Cornerstones Of Success Campaign: Phases 1-5
      • Gift Recognition & Namign Opportunities
        • Capital Giving Gift Clubs
      • How To Make A Capital Gift
      • Naming Opportunities
        • Performing Arts Center
        • Athletics Center
        • Paving Tiles
        • Bucknall Campus
        • Saratoga Campus
        • Policy
    • Endowment & Planned Giving
      • Endowment Policy
    • Volunteering
    • Donations and Pledges