Gallaudet presentations at schools across the country encourage Deaf people to get in on the debate

You’re on a first date and it’s going super well. All of a sudden, you notice that your date has a booger on the edge of one nostril. Should you say something? Yes or No?

It is easy to see how two people might have opposing views on such a dilemma. If they can share their opinions and explain the reasoning behind these positions, that is debate, explains Associate Professor Dr. Brendan Stern, ’06, who used this example during workshops this fall for about 150 students at California School for the Deaf-Riverside (CSDR) and the Texas School for the Deaf (TSD).

The visits, which were funded by a grant from the National Speech & Debate Association to expand debate opportunities for deaf youth, gave Stern the chance to promote Gallaudet’s Youth Debate Bowl (YDB). The annual event — organized by the Center for Democracy in Deaf America (CDDA) and Youth Programs — invites students to submit a video on an assigned topic. The top four submissions for each age group are chosen for a virtual semifinal debate, which determines who will compete in the finals held at Gallaudet in February.

Stern, who serves as Executive Director of the CDDA, is thrilled to announce that there were a record 35 submissions for YDB this year. “What made it even more meaningful was how the submissions required time and effort, that many came from schools we visited and from mainstream programs we hadn’t been in touch with directly,” he says. “It’s a great sign of debate in Deaf America and the widening circle of deaf students who now see debate as something for them.”

Spreading the word to students

CDDA has been organizing other outreach efforts, including a recent presentation by CDDA Assistant Director Lexi Hill, ’23, for Kendall Demonstration Elementary School. A dozen students participated in a group SPAR (spontaneous argumentation) on whether homework should be banned. “Students tend to enjoy this topic because it’s accessible, personal, and timeless. Once they break into teams and start the debate, it’s so much fun to see them become passionate because it hits home for them,” Hill says. “This kind of outreach shows students that debate is for them too, that the space is there to think critically from multiple perspectives and care enough to argue with conviction.”

For Stern’s tour, he focused on CSDR and TSD because they had expressed a strong interest in debate in the past. Each two-hour workshop covered YDB, why debate matters, and how to debate effectively. “The real fun came from the hands-on activities, such as mini-debates and strategic drills that get students signing fast, thinking hard, and laughing in between. They seemed to enjoy that part the most. And honestly, so did I,” he adds.

Estrella Hummel, an eighth grader at TSD, says her favorite part of the workshop was when everyone had to directly challenge the person standing next to them. “I ended up getting into a rebuttal competition with Brendan. It was so fun,” she says. Then they divided up into three groups to tackle the topic, “Phones should be allowed at school.” “Everyone drummed on the table for each speaker. It was so exciting, and I loved seeing everyone’s debates,” says Hummel, who ended up winning the activity — and, after submitting a video to YDB, securing a spot in the semifinals.

TSD already has a middle school debate club that is coached by teacher Anika Webster, ’24, who also offers an elective course in debate. “We are excited to have a debate club because it challenges our students to think deeply and encourages them to become stronger learners,” she says. Stern’s workshop made a big impression on these students, who were eager to get involved with YDB. “ We submitted seven students for this year’s [YDB] competition, which is a significant milestone for our club and a direct result of the enthusiasm Brendan helped spark,” she says. Webster wants them to compete locally in Texas in the near future.

Making it a team effort

TSD teacher Malihe Ghazanfari, G-’15, plans to launch a debate team next year for their high school students. “Several shared that [the workshop] helped them better understand the importance of debating — how it builds critical thinking, confidence, and effective communication,” says Ghazanfari, who notes that follow-up questions and discussions continued even after they returned to class. Students wanted to understand how much preparation time debaters get in a competition, whether written notes are allowed, and how judges decide between teams when they both make strong arguments. 

There are similar plans in the works at CSDR, which has two coaches planning to launch a high school debate team. “Dr. Stern’s presentation was a catalyst and provided the coaches with the foundation to begin exploring establishing a formal team that will compete with hearing high school peers in California,” says teacher Jose “Pepe” Cervantes, ’05, who also serves as Chair of Gallaudet’s Board of Trustees. He explains that the CSDR coaches have signed up for several trainings provided by the California High School Speech Association (CHSSA) this year with the goal of registering as a team in the fall of 2026. This month, they are also starting a CSDR debate enrichment club, which will meet regularly to get everything in place to align with CHSSA guidelines.

CSDR’s Director of Instruction Rory Osbrink, ’00, says Stern’s presentation helped staff and students better understand the variety of formats that can be used in debate competitions. He is looking forward to watching their students compete against hearing teams. “All of this is underway and will more likely be solidified next year,” he adds.

Stern says it is notable that so many Gallaudet alumni are part of this nationwide push to promote youth debate. “They are showing what a community can do when it takes responsibility for its own future. As teachers, coaches, administrators, and parents, they are expanding access to competitive debate and the skills that it teaches for the next generation of Deaf leaders,” he says.

Embracing diverse perspectives

As part of his cross-country tour, Stern also presented to about 500 people at the University of California-San Diego, the University of Pennsylvania, DeafCollab 2025, and Ohlone College on the intersection of Deaf America and politics. “We need to rethink how we talk, think, and sign about Deaf America,” says Stern, who appreciated that attendees brought a wide range of perspectives to the events. “Their diversity of thought was as energizing as it was encouraging.”

Stern hoped everyone left with one big idea: “We shouldn’t separate how we imagine Deaf America from how we imagine America itself. Like it or not, we’re a microcosm of the nation — its beauty, its ugliness, its tensions, and its stubborn hopefulness. If we want a vibrant future for our schools and communities, we must acknowledge this reality.”

But, of course, he welcomes debate on that topic, too.

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Gallaudet students are encouraged to get involved with the CDDA and join the debate team. Dr. Brendan Stern is an Associate Professor of Government, which is part of the Public Affairs Program.