I coach speech and debate and our team is looking at some rather pricey national tournaments this year.
If you want to help kids who are learning how to defend their positions and simultaneously see the other sides perspective consider helping them out!
raise.snap.app/donate/olath...
Watch the speech, it’s a great opportunity to see a nationally awarded speaker do the thing they do best.
And spread the message. The district made a decision here. They owe the community transparency.
drive.google.com/file/d/1WEc_...
Id love to know why the district decided to remove the speech but because this move was orchestrated without notice to the student nor explanation I can take some guesses.
I’m furious and you should be too.
No where is that more evident than in the districts decision to stealthily remove from the graduation video posted online nationally awarded speaker, student body president, and Harvard-bound student Patrick Wong.
Yesterday I recieved a very different update as folks from the Lansing community messaged, called, and texted.
This year has been rough over there, a continuation of a rapidly declining situation that is not centered in what is best for kids, but in furthering closed minded ideologies and xenophobia
What is outwardly clear is i train kids to be good and well spoken advocates for themselves and others.
I have trained folks who have taken those skills in a million different directions.
This semester I recieved updates about students who advocated to Congress in DC.
I avoid being in team photos of big accomplishments because I want them to know that they own them.
I have angrily stormed in to administrators offices to defend my kids and my program. I help them see when they make mistakes, and help them to develop interpersonal skills.
Before anything else I need you to know that my allegiance has forever and always been to the kids.
There have been moments when I have stood beside or behind kids doing the right thing, where I’ve held hands as they did the hard thing to do, where I’ve cheered them on as they speak truth to power.
Happy International Women’s Day y’all 🫶💕
#internationalwomensday #womensday
Art by @justsaysk
Happy (late) speech & debate education day!
