30^th Anniversary

Boston Urban Debate League

January 19th: 1:00 – 4:00 p.m.

Rabb Lecture Hall, Boston Public Library

Hostelling International USA and the Boston Urban Debate League are partnering to honor the legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. with a public showcase of the visions of Boston’s young people. Ten Boston Public Schools students will debate issues of race, culture, non-violence, and human rights in a public forum. Find Your Voice 2008: Honoring the Legacy of Dr. King will bring together local public high school debaters and community leaders who support the urban debate movement in its push to expand the growth opportunities of debate to urban high schools.  Students will publicly debate government policy on topics including racial integration of public schools, genocide in Darfur, and aid to developing countries. Participating high schools include: Brook Farm Academy, Charlestown High School, Josiah Quincy Upper School, Boston Community Leadership Academy, and the Academy of Public Service. Each topic will be presented by a prominent guest presenter.  Guest presenters play a key role in the event, bringing recognition to the urban debate movement and the important role that young people and open discussion have to play in the response to current social issues.  For more information: http://www.usahostels.org/voice2008.php

Topics:

• United States foreign aid for HIV prevention should not prioritize abstinence-until-marriage programs.
• The US federal government should mandate that public schools in the US teach Spanish as a foreign language.
• The Supreme Court should reverse its decision in Parents Involved in Community Schools vs. Seattle School District No. 1 and allow school districts to make race-based school assignments for the purpose of desegregation.
• The United States should boycott the 2008 Beijing Olympics.
• Members of the US armed services should be allowed to fulfill part of their obligated service in the Peace Corps.