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Six Dallas ISD debaters obtained $18,000 in school scholarships by collaborating in the Fourth Annual Roland Parrish Scholarship Debate Tournament held at James Madison High School on May 18. Through a partnership with the Dallas Urban Debate Alliance, the Parrish Charitable Foundation has awarded greater than $60,000 to Dallas ISD pupil debaters during the last 4 years.
Debate provides younger students a platform to have interaction in civil discourse in a constructive and constructive means, mentioned Parrish, who’s the CEO of Parrish Restaurants and owns 27 McDonald’s eating places in the DFW space.
“Debating helps with truancy, academic advancement, confidence in public speaking, and critical thinking skills,” he mentioned in a latest interview with NBC-Channel 5 News.
Each 12 months, Parrish personally selects the subject. This 12 months’s matter was: Social Studies curriculum can’t be taught with out discussing controversial points. Representing six totally different Dallas ISD excessive faculties, debaters labored collectively in the weeks main up to the talk, writing persuasive arguments utilizing the World Schools debate format.
Held in entrance of a pupil viewers in Madison High’s auditorium, the talk offered college students the chance to showcase their persuasive abilities earlier than a panel of judges.
The college students crafted arguments on each side of a movement, discussing the deserves of instructing controversial points in the curriculum, mentioned Cindi Timmons, govt director of the Dallas Urban Debate Alliance.
“Their balanced approach to the debate showed all in attendance that it is possible to have civil conversations over tough topics,” she mentioned. “The Dallas Urban Debate Alliance couldn’t be prouder of the students’ work.”
Following the talk, Parrish offered a $3,000 examine to every debater.
Participating Debaters:
- Michelle Aguilar, Senior, Wilmer Hutchins High School
- Emyah Cox, Junior, Irma Rangel Young Women’s Leadership School
- Francesca Gilbard, Senior, High School for the Talented and Gifted
- Nyasha Griffin, Junior, Hillcrest High School
- Leroy Tamfu, Freshman, Barack Obama Male Leadership Academy
- Elliott Yervasi, Sophomore, Judge Barefoot Sanders Law Magnet