Debate Institute Goals

The Concordia Summer Debate Institute is centered around the values of:

EXPERIENCE -

EDUCATIONAL: We feel strongly that debate can be a potent educational experience.  While we make no apologies for being a competitive activity, central the Institute is a belief that the activity is about much more than winning debate rounds.

STAFF: Our staff come from some of the best backgrounds.  We have a staff that is inclusive of Professors, Teachers, Coaches and competitors that have a track record of success.  Our staff, unlike other institutes, do not feel this is a vacation.  They are enthusiastic and excited about working with your students.

The Concordia Debate Institute is designed to educate citizens, as well as train debaters. Our hope is that the Institute participants or "Kernels" come to share the values of the Concordia "Cobbers." Debating not only improves analytical and communication skills -- it can foster personal and civic values that will guide people through the course of their lives. This stance leads us to make these commitments to the Kernels:

RESPECT FOR A VARIETY OF AUDIENCES

Beyond merely helping students to adapt to different judges-we stress as a fundamental value, that all people deserve respect.  That even applies to those people who hold different views about debate.

RESULTS -

LONG-TERM SKILLS DEVELOPMENT: The Kernel experience is about learning long-term skills -- not cutting and pasting slips of paper or using cheap tricks to win the Institute tournament.  Our orientation centers around helping students learn skills that can last a lifetime.

Information For:

current students
faculty and staff		 parents
alumni		 high school students
admitted students