Debate Program Regular Season Ends, Championship Tournaments Ahead for Hackley

On March 6, in our fourth Middle School SPDP tournament, nine teams totaling 27 MS students, including three 5th graders, participated with over 120 MS students from around the NY/DC metropolitan areas, debating such topics as climate change justice and whether to abolish the Senate. 5th graders Mia S., Erys B., and Mariana D. won their first ever debate, and 8th graders Angela C. and Sejal V. were a top team in the tournament with a 3-1 record. Angela C. was also the top Hackley speaker.
 
On March 13th, four teams of US students competed in the final High School PDP event of the season along with schools from southern California in addition to local NY and NJ based schools. Hackley’s team of Alex Goldman and Arav Misra came in second place overall with a perfect 4-0 record, debating such topics as the legitimacy of deceptive police interrogation practices and whether or not Edward Snowden deserves to be pardoned. Freshman Jad Benslimane was our top Hackley speaker.
 
Overall, approximately 45 Hackley debaters have participated in over ten PDP tournaments of the season since last fall. 
 
The season will culminate in two Championship events – the MS Championship will take place over two days on May 8 and 9, and the HS Championship will happen on Saturday, April 17th.