Our experience at the Lincoln Spring Classic Speech and Debate Tournament yesterday was terrific. The organizers really make a production out of their gratitude to the volunteer judges: plenty of thanks, plenty of direction, plenty of food -- and plenty of joy in seeing how remarkably accomplished in intelligence, poise, preparation, communicative skill, values and courtesy are the home school students arrayed for these contests.Claire judged a speech session each in the categories of informational and interpretative. Mine were extemporaneous and humorous. Then we each also judged a round of debate.
It was a real treat to see how well the contestants performed and we came away impressed (as always) at the quality of persons being produced by those home schools where, in addition to moral character, intellectual strengths are emphasized.
