Lakeland Westchester Classic Debate Tournament Hits New Heights

Press release from Lakeland Central School District:

March 3, 2021

Back in 2005, the Lakeland Westchester Classic Debate Tournament drew about 100 competitors.

The event has grown over the years, attracting about 740 students last year from points near and far, including California and Taiwan. But this year, with the tournament shifting to a virtual format due to the coronavirus pandemic, the event has swelled even further.

Over the weekend, 1,008 middle and high school students logged on from home to debate the issues of the day and there were another approximately 600 people serving as judges, tournament staff and observers.

The tournament welcomed students for the first time from the Dominican Republic as well as from schools in Georgia, Illinois, Kansas, Louisiana, Nebraska, Nevada, New Hampshire, North Carolina, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Texas, and Washington state. In all, students came from 123 schools from 20 states, Canada, the Dominican Republic and Taiwan.

“It was an amazing weekend,” said Stefan Bauschard, the Lakeland District Debate Team coach. “We were thrilled we were able to host so many students doing what they love. The kids were really excited and really enjoyed the experience.”

Students met in virtual debate rooms, along with judges and observers. There were 1,699 debates that spanned 56,864 minutes, or about 947 hours. Students debated criminal justice reform, the pros and cons of West African urbanization, lethal autonomous weapons, human cloning, mandatory vaccines, Green New Deal and standardized testing.

“Having more students from around the nation and world brings more perspectives to the issues being debated and makes for richer debates,” Mr. Bauschard said. “The tournament is incredibly diverse.”

Division winners include Brooklyn Technical High School (NY), Foothill High School (CA), Golden State Academy (CA), Lexington High School (MA), In-Tech Academy (NY), Mamaroneck High School (NY), Newark Science (NJ), North Broward High School (FL), Poly Prep Country Day (NY), Stuyvesant High School (NY). About 20 members of the Lakeland District Debate Team, comprised of students at Lakeland High School and Walter Panas High School, helped run the event and judged middle school events.

The event, held on a competition platform developed by Walter Panas alum Priten Shah, went smoothly. “Everything ran really well and on time,” Mr. Bauschard said. “Everybody was very happy with the experience.”

This press release was produced by Lakeland Central School District. The views expressed here are the author's own.