Well Said! Middle Schoolers Deliver Winning Speeches

Cyber-communication—progress or problem? This burning question animated class discussions and provoked individual conversations throughout the middle school this winter. Why? For the first time, Principia students in grades 6–8 participated in the Optimist International Oratorical Contest. Each student researched the topic, prepared a response—either pro or con—and delivered a speech designed to persuade the audience of the obvious merits or dangers of cyber-communication. Sixth graders shared their 2 1/2-minute speeches within their own classes; seventh and eighth graders spoke for 4–5 minutes to an audience of peers and panel of esteemed local judges (Merrill Boudreaux, Upper School Academic Dean, Steve Henn, Upper School English teacher, and Sue Palmer, wife of Chief Executive Jonathan Palmer).

The speeches were convincing, clever, and creative. Among the cyber-pitfalls cited were Internet addiction, fraud, cyber-bullying, crime, obesity, anti-social behavior, pornography, and security and privacy issues. “It [cyber-communication] makes it too easy to seem like someone you’re not,” one student warned. There were just as many students, however, who touted cyber-communication as the most positive cultural phenomenon since the printing press. These students spoke about great advances in personal communication, business, economics, education, and of course, shopping—all due to the expansion of cyber-communication.

From the group of seventh and eighth graders, nine students were chosen to speak again in front of a second group of judges comprised of four middle school teachers. These judges selected five students—Madison Arens, Maddi Demaree, Emelie Fredrikson, Ben Swank, and Kevin Ward—to represent Principia School at the club-level Optimist competition. From there, three students—Madison, Kevin, and Emelie—advanced to the regional contest. Although competition was stiff, Principians Emelie Fredrikson and Kevin Ward were chosen as finalists by the Optimist judges and will now advance to the district competition on April 24, competing for the opportunity to win a $2,500, $1,500, or $1,000 college scholarship. Congratulations middle schoolers!