alternative learning environments: the speaker's corner
We fervently believe that every student in high school should be required to stand up at least once in front of the entire school and argue for something. Anything. In public. We also believe that every student should be required to participate in at least one public debate, a duel between two opposing positions requiring rhetorical skills, research and some measure of commitment and passion. The Speaker's Corner is the venue serving both goals. By institutionalizing the venue, we hope to institutionalize the activity as well, another small step in our campaign to bring Rhetoric back as an important and required skill at the high school grade levels.
Central St. Martins College, Lichfield, England