Roberts and Scalia May Have Paved the Way to Full Marriage Equality

In late April, with the exam nigh and the Springtime weather just starting to lure all our minds far away from printed papers and screens full of text, I gave my AP English Language students a huge, risky assignment. I let them choose one Supreme Court case – U.S. vs Windsor or Hollingsworth vs Perry – and one justice. They would read the oral argument transcript of their case, focusing on their selected justice. The endgame: they needed to predict how their justice would vote in their case.

This would be a real test of their mettle

Change at the Top (National Champions 2012)

As they have since the Great Depression, the National Forensic League honored dozens of high school students tonight as the country’s finest speakers and debaters. The final rounds for each event streamed all day yesterday from the League’s Facebook page and its official tournament website, showcasing these same youngsters’ incredible talent, poise, and eloquence. The awards ceremony was also streamed live from the Concert Hall of the Birmingham-Jefferson Convention Complex in Alabama. Though the NFL has consistently recognized the elite schools of the tournament – those who qualify a number of students and see many of them excel at once – the League has dramatically enhanced the slate of such honors this year.

Rubbing Elbows with National Champions

For the first time in over twenty years, I had the honor of speaking at the National Forensic League Championships.

This time, instead of attempting to win high marks from panel after panel of distinguished judges, I conducted two Coach Clinics to highlight the ways the Common Core standards openly support and enhance speech and debate instruction. Just to rub elbows with the many educators that dedicate hours, weekends, and decades to nurture the expressive talents of young orators, analysts, and storytellers inspires me to no end.