Parker JV Policy Debaters Take First in Final All-District Qualifier
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The Parker School junior varsity policy debate team of Mary Kamitaki and Annie Sturges took first place in the final all-district qualifying debate event of the season.  A second JV policy debate team, that of Kimo Hon and Jenny Sanford, qualified for states.

Students addressed the question of whether the United States federal government should substantially increase public health assistance to sub-Saharan Africa.

Teams from 17 schools competed in three categories:   policy debate, public forum debate, and Lincoln-Douglas debate. In public forum debate, the Parker School team of Juliana Bennington and Saikat Mitra qualified for states. In total, Parker School has qualified two JV policy teams, one public forum team, and one Lincoln-Douglas debater for the state finals, which will be held on Oahu in mid-April.

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Powerhouse of Persuasion

Parker School's new debate team has reason to be proud. Under the direction of coach (and headmaster) Dr. Carl Sturges, the team has entered the fray of policy and Lincoln-Douglas debate, emerging victorious against teams from Punahou, Iolani, and Kamehameha schools on Oahu, and qualifying for the state championships.

To date*, Parker School has competed in three major events: the University Lab School Non-Qualifying Debate Tournament, the Kamehameha Schools Thanksgiving Invitational Tournament, and the Maui Neighbor Island Tournament.

At University Lab, two Parker School teams tied for first place. The students continued their top-notch performance at the Kamehameha invitational, where they met many of their opponents for the year from Punahou, Iolani, and other schools.

"Our students showed that they have the skills to excel in this activity," said assistant coach (and admissions director) Ann Renick.

Parker School team members Annie Sturges, Mary Kamitaki, Cara Nair, Jazz Richter, Jenny Sanford, and Kimo Hon placed first, second and third in junior varsity policy debate events at the tournament. Wearing black blazers and serious expressions, the students addressed the resolution: "The United States federal government should substantially increase its public health assistance to Sub-Saharan Africa."

At the Maui Neighbor Island Tournament, Parker School's JV policy debate team won first place and qualified for the state competition in April on Oahu. Elliott Warkus, in his first foray into Lincoln-Douglas debate, won second place and also qualified for states. Another Big Island policy debate team, from Christian Liberty Academy, placed second at the Maui competition, which says a lot about the skill level on the Big Island, Dr. Sturges noted. Another impressive team exists at Kohala High School.

Dr. Sturges started Parker’s debate team this year. "I started it to give the kids the kind of experience that only debate can give them: rapid analytical thinking and the ability to argue persuasively in front of groups. It gives kids confidence and the ability to use evidence effectively in support of arguments," he said.

Participating in debate also helps with college admissions, especially since many colleges offer scholarships for debate team members. "The better the college the more likely they are to have a debate team," Dr. Sturges said.