“Almost all formats of debate, and especially policy debate, require you to do both sides. You have to both say ‘yes’ and ‘no’ — and it forces you to find the best version of things that you disagree with, often vehemently.” ~ David Trigaux

If you came across something that promises to offer students “evidence-driven, rigorously tested ideas that consider alternative perspectives” wouldn’t you be interested?

That’s how I felt as I learned more about Washington Urban Debate League. WUDL uses debate — specifically debate about current public policy issues — to make transformative opportunities available for public school students in the Washington, D.C. area.

Research shows that debate teaches students how to analyze, explore and understand the world around them, while it hones additional skills like research, critical thinking, and communication.

Sounds like a curiosity enterprise to me!

The teams that have dug deep, been creative, and also focused on and followed their passion, those are the ones who are successful, who can combine that mastery with the creativity… I think in some sense that’s another tier of mastery: not only can you check all the boxes, but can you create a few new ones.

Listen to Choose to Be Curious #265: Resolved: Curiosity Is Good for Debate, with David Trigaux

David Trigaux is Director of Programming and Development at the Washington Urban Debate League. Perhaps there’s a debate league near you. Check out NAUDL or American Debate League.

Check out some of the compelling research on the value of debate: Interscholastic Policy Debate Promotes Critical Thinking and College-Going: Evidence from Boston Public Schools.

If you enjoyed this conversation, you might like these C2BC Classics: Neurodiverse Curiosity, with Kristy Johnson; Curiosity & the Gift of Uncertainty, with Maggie Jackson; Curiosity & the Law, with Palma Strand; & How to Change the World.

Theme music by Sean Balick; “Turning on the Lights” by Speakeasy, via Blue Dot Sessions.

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