Poly Public Speaking Programs Support Intellectual Inquiry and Community Building

Poly’s commitment to public speaking is a standout element of the school. Starting in the Lower School, students get hands-on opportunities to practice speaking aloud to groups in seamless integration with their studies. Unsurprisingly, debate is a popular activity in the Middle School, racking up awards and boasting large participation numbers. 

Now, in the Upper School, public speaking programs, including debate, moot court, ethics, mock trial, and speech programs, are managed by co-coordinators and Upper School faculty Norman Frazier and Dominic Rosato. During Giving Day 2024, Poly pledged $30,000 to deepen debate and moot court with a 1:1 match, demonstrating the school’s commitment to public speaking programs.

“In my role as co-coordinator, I hope to bring more community, cohesion, and parent participation to Poly public speaking programs,” said Norman. “I want to build mentoring relationships between Upper and Middle School students and build our presence with admissions outreach, letting potential students know about our robust programs.”

Poly has a rich public speaking tradition anointed by national awards for our programs and a tradition of alumni success in rhetoric. Students are hungry for these outlets, with competitions bringing them nationwide, including UC Berkeley, Duke University, University of Georgia, Yale University, UC Santa Barbara, and more. However, it is not just about accolades and awards in rhetoric programs; the intensive schedule and travel allow true bonding and connection among student participants.

“Debate has been the single most important activity I've ever been involved in,” said Alena T. ’25. “In debate, trophies are sheer incentives for the skills and values that debate truly stands for: understanding, discipline, and discussion. I recently had a conversation with one of my closest friends who I've gotten to know over the past two summers. We were considering whether or not we wanted to debate in college, and he asked me the same question: ‘Why debate?’ For me, policy debate has profoundly impacted how I approach the world and how I want to change it.”

While preparing for competitions with the support of coaches and parent volunteers, students learn profound life lessons such as how to work on teams and how to develop interpersonal skills that equip them for life. Public speaking programs rely on group structures. According to Norman, 90% of the formats involve a partner or team. These competitions require intellectual cooperation and teamwork, setting students up for success in future studies and real-life scenarios. 

“We have to sit down and work through arguments on the spot. Seeing this team building built over time is something that I have enjoyed, and it also makes for a larger community,” said Norman.

It’s not just intellectual connection that stimulates students but also genuine connections across grade levels and disciplines. Some of the students' favorite memories are ice cream socials while on the road or conversations in transit. Poly public speaking programs have created a strong bridge from Middle School to a pathway in Upper School to explore potential life skills and careers.

“It's difficult to distill how much debate has meant to me over the past few years,” said Alena. “There have been highs and lows, triumphs and challenges, but if I had to distill it all into a sentence, I'd say that debate has become a home where I am empowered to pursue solutions that make the world a better place, guided by rigorous research and supported by a community that only wishes the best for me.”