Speech & Debate
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| Christian Communicators of the SouthEast (CCofSE) was founded based upon a vision to provide an environment where homeschooling parents can help their students grow and develop their communication and argumentation skills in a way that brings honor to the name of Jesus Christ. With these skills, they can not only be effective communicators of "the hope that is within them" (1 Peter 3:15), but also "contend for the faith" (Jude 1:3) that must carried to the next generation and beyond. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| This vision is captured and confirmed is both our Vision Statement and Mission Statement. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| The very foundation of CCofSE is faith in Jesus Christ, and the knowledge that he is God's one and only Son who was sent to this world to be the sacrificial lamb offered as payment for our sins. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Built upon that foundation are three pillars that stand for the values by which everything we do in CCofSE is evaluated. By design we are Academically Focused, Christ Centered and Family Oriented. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Academically Focused | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Our focus is academic excellence. Speech and Debate are academic pursuits -- tools for a developing a well-trained mind. Investing time, organization, and study in a particular subject best prepares us to be informed and persuasive speakers, now and in the future. “May the favor of the Lord our God rest upon us; establish the work of our hands for us - yes, establish the work of our hands. (Psalm 90:17) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Christ Centered | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Our priority is to glorify our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ in everything we say and do. Therefore, our attitudes should always be in keeping with a spirit that honors Him. Minds and hearts trained to give care in paying attention to others, encourage us to be respectful hearers who answer with a gracious reply. “My dear brothers, take note of this: Everyone should be quick to listen, slow to speak and slow to become angry..” (James 1:19) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Family Oriented | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Our intent is to support parents as they guide and direct their children in the fear and admonition of the Lord (Ephesians 6:4). We believe each child is a unique individual, gifted with specific talents and challenges, and parents are accountable before Christ to train and seek His best for them, always looking first to how they themselves are living before Him. “May the LORD our God be with us as He was with our fathers; may He never leave us nor forsake us. 58 May He turn our hearts to him, to walk in all His ways and to keep the commands, decrees and regulations He gave our fathers.” (1 Kings 8:57-58). | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| With our foundation in Jesus Christ and these three pillars, we can now build a speech and debate environment. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Tournaments | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Tournaments are conducted with a goal of providing a competitive environment in which the skills, methods and techniques learned at home and in speech and debate clubs can be tested and proven in a God honoring event. This opportunity is a character building exercise where students can learn to compete where they can win and lose graciously. The emphasis is not on the winning or losing but on contending in a way that honors the name of Jesus Christ. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Some these goals are accomplished in a number of different ways. First and foremost, it begins with parents and leaders who are committed to them. From that point, tournaments must always begin and end with prayer. The event must be initiated with prayer, devotions, and praise and worship. By beginning with our focus on our Savior, it is our prayer that our focus will remain more on Him instead of our own selfish desires. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Competition | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Competition is a biblical concept. We are commanded to "contend for the faith" (Jude 1:3) and we "run with patience the race that is set before us". We also read that "... one receives the prize? So run, that ye may obtain." (1 Corinthians 9:24). The key to competition is not whether we compete, but how we compete. "I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus." (Philippians 3:14) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| The Christian life is not a sprint but a marathon. Competing to win one round, one tournament, or one speech and debate season is NOT the objective. The goal is the "high calling of God in Christ Jesus". Therefore we must compete (win or lose) in a gracious and God honoring way. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Team Policy Debate for the 2011-2012 Season | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Team Policy Debate is a two versus two persuasive, policy debate on traditional stock issues. It focuses on the advocacy of a plan or policy action to solve some sort of harm or need in the status quo. Competitors will be evaluated on their analysis, use of evidence, and ability to effectively and persuasively organize, deliver, and refute arguments. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Public Forum Debate for the 2011-2012 Season | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| This event is offered as a means of introducing students to the fundamentals of academic debate in a fun way, and with a less competitive approach than that found in the more demanding Varsity level Policy Debate. It is open to students ages 12-14. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Individual Events (Speech) for the 2011-2012 Season | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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