Author: Pat
NYC Urban Debate League Rocks!
Over the past two years as we’ve been developing World Debating Forum we’ve had the opportunity to review many different kinds of school-based debate programs, and there are none more exciting to us that what we see happening in the New York City Urban Debate League. It’s one thing to read the deep academic research on how debating can change the lives of young people from challenging backgrounds and
it’s another thing altogether to see and hear these kids tell their own stories.
The New York City Urban Debate League is responsible for reaching out to thousands of young people from every kind of background and circumstance and raising them up through the power of debate. Whether it’s increased high school graduation rates, reduced dropout rates, fewer young people falling victim to drugs and alcohol abuse, or radically increased lifetime earnings – all of these benefits of debate are made available at schools throughout the city by this energized debate-centered organization of teachers, coaches, students, administrators and community supporters.
We recently spend a full day browsing the video collection on the NYC Urban Debate League’s website and we would like to invite you to do the same. If you care about the lives of our young people who are facing challenges that rival the greatest ever faced by older generations, visit this website and listen to the stories of the young people. They will inspire you and fill you with pride in what they have been able to accomplish. These stories may also challenge you, as they did us, to envision this same program for every community.
Great Example Of How Debate Can Change Young Lives
As much as we would like to we can’t add to this New York Daily News article about the Brooklyn Middle School that just five years ago was down from 1200 students to a bare 165 students before Ben Honoroff and his staff turned the school into one of the best schools in the five boroughs by making debating a major driver of classroom education. The debate program has taken MS 50 from almost being closed down to being one of the best schools in New York City. We believe in the power of debate to change lives and this is one of the best examples of this principle that we’ve seen.
Principal Honoroff and his kids should be extremely proud and our hats are off to all of them – and their parents! This article shows how debate gives kids incentive to work harder and learn more while being easier and a lot more fun for the teachers. Our sincere congratulations to the kids of MS 50 and to Ben Honoroff and his great staff!
“Unlikely Brooklyn middle school debaters best in the five boroughs — and maybe in the USA”
By WES PARNELL and Larry McShane
NEW YORK DAILY NEWS |
Middle School 50 principal Benjamin Honoroff is proud of his debaters, including Grant Shan Jr, (left), 14, and Kevin Ascencion, 13.
(Kevin C Downs for New York Daily News)
There’s no argument here: The debate team at Middle School 50 is breaking down its opponents — and stereotypes.
The squad from the Williamsburg school, just three years from nearly closing its doors for good, is now one win away away from reaching the national championships in Houston.
“We constantly not only compete against schools with more funding, but we also win,” said proud school principal Ben Honoroff. “It’s working harder, smarter and longer … I leave school inspired every day.”
The Brooklyn school remains an unlikely launching pad for the fast-thinking youths who captured the last three citywide debate titles. Just three years ago, with the student population down from 1,200 to just 165 over the previous two decades, the school teetered on the edge of extinction.
Students debating whether junk food or healthy food should be served in schools in New York City. Middle School 50 in Willliamsburg, Brooklyn.(Kevin C. Downs for New York Daily News)
But the program, available for students in either English or Spanish, altered both the future of the school and its participants. Enrollment now stands at 300, with one in kids five enrolled in the debate program.
On Saturday, the team members hosted a debate for 100 students from seven local elementary schools as they spread the good word.
Student Diego Pena, a Dominican native who came to MS 50 in early 2017, cited the debate team for his metamorphosis from a kid with no dreams to an aspiring attorney.
“It teaches you how to think, how to analyze both parts of the argument,” said Pena, a star student who now works with younger debaters. “The debate is something grand that opens your mind to many things.”
The Texas trip is not the first national attention for the MS 50 debaters. New York’s Democratic Rep. Nydia Velazquez previously honored the team with a speech and a plaque on the floor of the House of Representatives.
The program began with just four students in 2013. While morale and membership exploded, not everything has changed: Nine out of 10 of the school’s poverty-stricken students still qualify for a free lunch.
Janier Espinal, a fifth-grader, hopes to join the MS 50 squad next year. With the aid of the older students, he notched a pair of first-place finishes Saturday in Spanish-language and individual debate.
“I feel like I’m doing something big,” said the Dominican immigrant, who one day hopes to work in the White House. “I always wanted to come here to learn English, help my family and get a better life.”
A student from Public School 34 debating team is joyful after winning a medal.(Kevin C. Downs for New York Daily News)
Eighth-grader Kevin Ascencion, 13, recalled how the competitions boosted his self-confidence and ability to handle pressure.
“It’s really nerve-wracking going against top-ranked schools,” said the son of two Mexican immigrants. “But it helps you to be competitive and teaches you how to step up.”
Parent Steve Guerrero, father of 10-year-old debater Juaquin, was stunned by the composure of the kids.
The members of the MS 50 debate team are seen at the school in Brooklyn. (Kevin C. Downs for New York Daily News)
”I would have never expected kids of this age to be this articulate,” he marveled. “I would have vomited and started crying if I had to do this when I was 10 years old.”
MS 50 teacher Caroline Hidalgo, who launched the Spanish language team, recalled breaking down in tears when Pena told her about his hopes.
“I never thought I created a difference like that,” she recounted. “Now every time I wake up in the morning, I wake up with more life knowing that I am making a good impact.
THE MOST IMPORTANT PART ABOUT FREEDOM OF SPEECH IS LISTENING
Hate-filled and disrespectful “free speech” is alive and well in the Democratic Party, which has been my party for 50+ years. The so called “debate” the other night was filled with nasty and embarrassing moments – again. No order, no self-control, no facts or fact checking, way too many straight-out lies, and the moderators quickly lost their grip on the process – again.
Who runs the best debates – go back and look. Who asks hard questions of all candidates, enforces the rules of debating, and never lets people talk over each other – all to make sure the audience can hear and understand what is being said. Whether you like what is being said or not – that isn’t the point here.
Saying what you disagree or agree with using facts and reasoning with respect – that’s debating. Pushing forward just points of view and facts that you like and ignoring, rejecting and disrespecting everything else – that’s not debating or helping the voters learn.
A debate should be about people discussing facts and ideas, making reasonable even if passionate arguments, and listening to each other. We did not hear a debate the other evening because of the lack of control by candidates and moderators alike, the hateful bickering, accusations and innuendos, with all the shouting and “look at me” grandstanding to grab attention. Again.
We at NO HATE NO VIOLENCE believe in debating done correctly with good facts and respect.
Classroom Debate Books – Publishing Now
The nohatenoviolence movement is a big believer in open dialogue and people talking to each other with respect, and more importantly listening to each other. Our guiding thought is that “The most important part of free speech is respectful listening.”
As you may know if you’re a follower we’ve been working hard for over a year on a debating program called World Debating Forum for all types of debating, with a special emphasis on classroom debate – a vastly overlooked and very valuable style of debate. Through this no hate no violence website we will feature a series of Opensource books and resources for teachers, students and parents to be able to focus on every aspect of the art of debating. Debate has been declining in the United States, a loss that is largely attributed to budget cuts. We think that part of the decline is that debating has turned from a civilized intellectual sport to a fight to the death-style competition. But we would like to bring it back to its roots because we think ithat classroom debate could help a lot of teachers lighten their load and get more students involved in something fun and challenging that has been proven to help them learn faster and better.
We want more parents to get involved in what the kids and their children are doing because they can support their children in a fun way and it’s an activity that’s fun for those who would like it.
We’re talking about it to athletes, non-athletes and anybody who thinks they can benefit from debate. It would benefit the district, the students are already doing well and understand debating but we’re trying to reach out to the students who are struggling a little bit to give them a better opportunity to get excited about school, getting more cognitive thinking and redirect people like the bullies and the people who will struggle socially. This can actually bring them out into an arena that allows them to be much more socially active and learn by doing it because the kids are working on teaching themselves in an interactive way.
Those smart lucky students will have a positive life changing experience; entitled kids helping underprivileged kids will do more than anyone can ever do for both of them and society.
“72% of high-risk secondary school debaters graduate versus 43% of secondary school nondebaters.”
We know that these ideas have been embraced by some schools more effectively than others; we’re trying to help improve that. We want to encourage communities that can’t get their schools onboard to do it outside in other ways, like their community outreach through church’s boys and girls clubs or just organize a group. Let me just give you a few quotes that have been put out by the American debate league
“While only 50% of high school students in urban schools graduate 90% of urban school debaters graduate.”
High-risk secondary school debaters also score better on ACT and SAT tests to get into better colleges and they perform better once in college and in life in general.
Students do not need to be forever debating to see results; even one or two debate experiences improves performance though every semester a student debates their grades go up.
These are pretty good examples of how we can support and help our children, their teachers and the administration to get better results.
Hate or Happiness? It’s A Choice.
We at NoHateNoViolence.com want to say that Hate is a choice not an emotion. That important distinction sometimes gets lost when we see hate-filled peoples’ faces in crowds contorted with what may look like emotion. It isn’t. It is their soul showing on their face. The more we all understand this the more we all might think about how to minimize hateful thoughts, comments and behaviors.
Happiness is also a choice, and no matter where we are in life, we should try for happiness in every living moment. Being happy as much as possible in life means quite simply that a person feels better and finds it harder to express Hate in thought, word or deed!
We would like to share this article by Kimberly Mikesh with you – perhaps it will help you find a little more happiness to share with others today!
“While some factors that affect happiness are out of our control (yes, genetics does play a role, as do current life circumstances), there are always actions we can take to amp up our good vibes. Consider trying a few of these – or all of them! – and you’re guaranteed to give your day a little boost.
1. Crank the tunes. Try NOT smiling while blasting your fave feel-good song (or 5).
2. Write it down. Did you know that taking the time to write down 3 positive things each day will make you more optimistic and less stressed? (And yes, we have an app for that 🙂
3. Get outside. Just a few minutes of fresh air can give you a fresh perspective.
4. Walk it out. A 20-minute brisk walk gets the heart pumping and will decrease stress.
5. Make a statement. With your accessories. A bold statement necklace, your too-cool-for-school shades or your favorite kicks can be all you need to turn a ‘blah’ day around.
6. Give yourself a boost. Of healthy nutrients! We’re talking fruit, veggies and protein. When your body feels good your brain will follow.
7. Leave a note. Make someone’s day by leaving a “you’re beautiful” note on the bathroom mirror.
8. Do something. Whether it’s sending an email or clearing the clutter off your dining room table, just getting one tiny little thing off your to-do list and onto the ‘it’s done’ list will give you a huge mental sigh of relief.
9. Say “thank you.” Even this small act of gratitude will boost your positivity.
10. Learn something new. Whether it’s reading a wiki about a topic that interests you or watching a quick Youtube tutorial, the digital world is full of ways to learn things fast and on the go. Yes, even happiness courses! 🙂
11. Be a good listener. Seeking out meaningful conversation is proven to improve your sense of well-being.
12. Let it go. You can boost your happiness by detaching from past negativity.
13. Straighten up! Our posture dictates how we feel, so straighten up and walk like a boss!
14. Try something new. Break out of your routine and mix things up! It can be as simple as walking down a different street – anything to just get off of autopilot and be present where you are.
15. Spend money. The trick is you have to spend it on someone else to get the ‘feel good’ perks, according to Harvard professor Mike Norton.
16. Text a friend. Reaching out to a pal and letting them know how awesome they are will make you feel awesome, too.
17. Make plans. Having something to look forward to, even something small like making plans to grab a cup of coffee with a friend, makes you happier. Anticipation is like a secret weapon of happiness.
18. Help someone. Feeling down? One of the quickest ways to pick yourself back up is to do something kind for someone else. Bonus feel good points when it’s random and not expected of you.
19. Stop comparing yourself. Chances are you always pick those at the very top to compare yourself to. No wonder you feel like you’ve come up short! Focusing on the things you’ve accomplished is a lot more productive.
20. Smile. In one research study subjects who smiled after a stressful activity decreased their heart rate more quickly than those who didn’t. It even works if you fake smile!
21. Power color. While we’re partial to orange of course, whatever your favorite color is, embrace it. Bonus: when you’re feeling down, treat yourself to a flower in your fave color. It will brighten the room and your outlook.
22. Treat yourself. Sometimes a tiny little luxury in our day is all we need to break out of a rut.
23. Read something. Be it your favorite guilty-pleasure celeb gossip mag or nerding out on your favorite blog, taking a few moments to indulge in something you truly enjoy will give you a burst of positive energy. Plus you might learn something (refer to #10).
24. Cute overload. Seeing something cute makes us smile which in turn makes us happier. The Cute Emergency twitter feed will rescue a bad day as quickly as you can say “Golden Retriever puppy.”
25. Think positive. No matter how bad things may seem, be grateful. Warm water on a cold day? Amazing! Cold water on a warm day? Incredible! You really are very lucky when you get right down to it.”
Another Example Of Runaway Hate
We at NO HATE NO VIOLENCE don’t have an opinion on acts of the President, but do think we should not have such hateful dialogue because it’s dividing our country.
The Impeachment process and the State of the Union, are great examples of this strategy at work. Some of our leaders use of intolerance and hate to advance their agenda is disgraceful.
We need much more respectful dialogue with honest facts by all parties.
We need to unite this country by being more tolerant, and get back to respectful debating of real issues, like our forefathers did, and like they clearly expected (the Constitution!) those that followed them would do the same.
The time and money just wasted on an impeachment is wrong, when it was clear that the President would be acquitted from the beginning. Hateful politics only divides our leaders and our country.
Thank God the voters see that HATE is not the answer – honest debate will produce much happier and better results. Remember – happiness isn’t an emotion – it’s a choice.
NO HATE NO VIOLENCE
Our Finger On The Hate Button
The other day, I was in the grocery store wearing my hat (the hat pictured above), and a young employee in their thirties gave me the finger. So, I walked over to him, who was about 20 feet away, and said, “Either you can’t read or you’re very lucky I believe in what this hat represents.” He then apologized and explained that he assumed it represented something else.
That incident made me realize how quickly our “hate button” can be pushed. Instead of instantly hating something, we should question why we feel that way. It’s astonishing to think that people and families now hate each other because of their political beliefs. When you read it, it sounds crazy, but it’s happening. We can attribute this divisiveness to politicians on both sides who perpetuate hate in order to gain support. They encourage us to hate the other side and vote for them. It has become an industry.
The truth is, 80% of Americans, regardless of party affiliation, want to be moderate. However, they allow the extreme left and right to dictate the agenda because they are either misinformed or afraid to speak up. As a Conservative Democrat, I believe our party is particularly guilty of fostering hatred. Abraham Lincoln once said, “I hate that guy, I need to get to know him better,” recognizing the destructive nature of hate. This is especially true for politicians. After all, wars have been waged due to hatred, and no war is ever good. Just look at the mess we’ve created around the world. While World Wars I and II may have had some justification, I am grateful to all the patriots who fought and died in all our wars. I believe their sacrifices will not be in vain because we have given the world a taste of freedom and democracy, which will benefit future generations in those countries. Above all else, I am proud of our military. Without them, we would not be the country that everyone, especially our own politicians, wants to destroy, even though I am a Democrat.
If you only watch news media that aligns with your own views and makes you comfortable, you are not truly watching the news. Instead, you are consuming politically correct commentary that tells you what you want to hear. A significant 72% of people in this country believe that political correctness is a problem. It’s important to express your own thoughts respectfully and gain the respect of others. Also, try watching the news from other channels occasionally. You might actually learn something and realize how similar we are. Most importantly, practice tolerance, as it goes a long way in preventing hatred.
Let’s lighten up and think before we resort to hate. At No Hate No Violence, we know that practicing this will lead to greater happiness and create a better world.
Sincerely,
Pat Lockhart
CEO & Founder
Depression, there is a way out.
If we don’t have depression ourselves, we all know somebody who does and know there are answers to battling depression and that there is a way out. I strongly suggest you give this video a try. It is on depression and how simple some people have been able to change the angle on how they deal with their depression.
Watch Here:
Some people require medication and some people think they require medication. I love the idea and power in meeting in a group with people who are battling similar issues as you. He shows how you can get together as a group, kind of like AA, which has been instrumental for my recovery as an alcoholic and it’s got no professionals in it helping whatsoever just a bunch of alcoholics that talk to one another. It’s by far the most successful way to deal with alcoholism for some people. Not everybody makes it, but when people battling a similar problem, whether it be alcoholism or depression come together and form a tribe and talk with each other it creates a better path for success. Having a variety of people that are at different mile markers with their depression makes for a strong and supportive tribe. You can’t just have people who are in the trenches of their depression, you also need those who’ve found a way out to help guide the others.
Most of us are depressed because of some kind of anxiety or situation that we are in, could be our job, could be from watching too much news or feeling like you are alone. This can create anxiety that leads to depression and believe it or not there’s people in this country that hate each other for having different beliefs. People should be able to believe in other things than you and without ending your friendship. This movement is about changing our thinking and having a more positive attitude (please see attitude article, it’s a big part of our No Hate No Violence movement).
I haven’t had feelings of depression for a long time since I created a positive attitude, even in bad situations I look for solutions. I don’t sit and dwell, and if I don’t like the politics of the person I’m talking to, we just debate. I love debating but not arguing, because I’m not trying to change their opinion. I just make sure I am listening and hear their thoughts and ideas. I make sure never to overreact to whatever it’s about, so I stay pretty calm all day. Now in my younger days, I would get frustrated, I’d have anxiety, I’d have upset stomachs, which would lead to depression which would lead to drinking and if I wasn’t self-medicating I would have some psychiatrist or psychologist giving me medications to numb me.
Now I don’t want any of you thinking it won’t get better as you get older because it does. If, you take to right steps in helping yourself. Listen to his two videos and I highly recommend if you have a relative or a friend or somebody you know struggling have them read this article. It’s a good thing to talk with others that have your same problem, especially if they have found solutions, and let them show.
Really listen to these speeches because they are very thought provoking.
Stop Thinking Do Something!
Give us your thoughts
San Francisco: A Great Example of Political Hate and Redirection of Real Problems
The anti-NRA people always amaze me. Recently the NRA was called a terrorist organization in a story involving one supervisor and the San Francisco city council.
One of the worst run cities in the country. Refusing to ask for federal help, I don’t mean money, as that doesn’t help.
Hate is not the answer, talk to the NRA. I bet not one member of the city council ever directly talked to the NRA about their concerns or have listened to their ideas and policies that could help them.
So, as a long-time member of the NRA, and Democrat, (35% of their members, your constituents are democratic members) you are calling me a terrorist.
That is the most ridiculous thing in the world to even think about. If anybody would really do their homework, the NRA is one of the most caring as it relates to second and first amendment protectors in the country. They have been trying to get people to look at the needs of the mentally ill, for years. There are lots of things they are for. They’re just waiting to work with Congress to get some things accomplished.
I do think there’s more things they should do. Maybe I don’t agree with everything they do, but I agree for the most part with what they do regarding gun safety, gun safety classes, protecting rights, and seeing that guns are in hands of the right people. We have such great laws out there now that, if they were ever enforced, we wouldn’t have near the gun deaths
But to call them a terrorist group is unbelievably naive. A lot of Democrats are NRA members. I am one. It’s not a Democrat or Republican issue. It’s not a gun issue. It is an issue of law-abiding people versus non-law-abiding people.
Why doesn’t anybody ever talk about the shooter? Where were the security guards in El Paso?
We talk about the guns instead of the shooters. The shooters are all mentally challenged at some level or another. No one in their right mind would do any of these things. Don’t forget, 90% of all gun shootings are pistols, not AR15’s.
I think that our efforts should be on education. If I have any criticism of any of the pro-gun people, including the NRA, it’s not educating the general population enough to not let the radicals dictate the agenda. Blame the media for this, they won’t get the message out. The Democrats have been defining the Republican party for 30 years because the Republicans and the NRA can’t get their message out on the liberal media.
I understand they have a huge challenge. The NRA does, the Conservative parties do. They can’t get any coverage because what they will cover is one person calling us a terrorist and a council that went along with her. This is just amazing to me how naive people are about what the NRA really is and what the NRA really stands for.
As for the totally failed San Francisco city council they need to communicate and find solutions by listening to all people possible before making uninformed decisions.
Hate rhetoric never works toward a solution, it only exacerbates it with negative results and no solutions. No hate No Violence hopes for honest respectful rhetoric. If you talk to your adversaries it can only improve the results, maybe not perfectly but better than hating just to hate.
Stop knee jerk reacting and start talking.
What are your thoughts?