Continuing a valued tradition, Middletown High School students attended The Great Debate, an annual faceoff between Howard University and Yale University on Friday, November 1, at the First Cathedral in Bloomfield. For the second year in a row, MHS students had the opportunity to witness this prestigious intellectual exchange, presented by the Connecticut NAACP.
Students observed skilled debaters tackle pressing contemporary issues, including social media regulation, voter participation, and the national housing crisis. The event proved especially meaningful when students discovered that one of their peer's mothers was a former Howard University debate team member.
"Having our students experience this high-level academic discourse for the second consecutive year demonstrates our commitment to providing enriching opportunities that expand their horizons," said Superintendent Dr. Alberto Vazquez Matos. "These experiences expose our students to collegiate-level discourse and diverse perspectives in higher education."
The student group was chaperoned by Ms. Mancini, Dr. McCann, Ms. Walters, Mr. Lowry, and Mr. Sears, who dedicated time during the busy end-of-quarter period to ensure students could participate in this valuable experience.
This continued partnership with the Great Debate program demonstrates Middletown Public Schools' commitment to exposing students to collegiate-level discourse and diverse perspectives in higher education.