Jennifer Kieran
Speech Coach, Ellsworth HS
2017 New Coach Award Honoree
Speech is an activity that accepts all kinds of students and embraces differences and disabilities and celebrates them.
Dr. Karissa Niehoff
Executive Director, National Federation of State High School Associations (NFHS)
“Completing the educational process through activities, students learn teamwork, fair play, self-discipline, self-confidence, and how to handle competitive situations.
Dr. Kay Neal
Professor Emeritus, UW-Oshkosh; former WISDAA Debate Advisor
Speech is the purest form of teaching. You get to work directly with kids and help them grow throughout their high school years.
Interscholastic academic/performing arts sports, such as One-Act Theatre, Speech, Debate, and Film, should be supported by schools much in the same way they support athletics. Moreover, these academic sports can be sustained at a fraction of the cost of athletics through local and state contests of the WISDAA.
According to the National Speech & Debate Association, schools who offer programming report:
- Increased attendance
- Higher test scores
- Rise in college acceptance
- Unique benefits for at-risk students
- Reduced drop-out rates
The Wisconsin State Legislature passed a joint resolution recognizing March 3, 2017 as National Speech and Debate Education Day, thanks to our friends at the National Speech & Debate Association (formerly National Forensic League).