Boston Debate League in the News

Yesterday’s Boston Herald, prompted by today’s opening of The Great Debaters, included a short feature about the Boston Debate League. Frankly, I was a little disappointed by the article’s length. The reporter spoke with myself and several of the coaches in the BDL, but the article mentioned only one of our schools by name:

“Students at the Josiah Quincy Upper School, and six other schools, represent the city locally and nationally as part of the program.

“Debate is about taking a risk,” said Alexander Chan, 17, captain of the Josiah Quincy team. “It is about finding a voice.

“Debate used to be very upper class. With urban debate you have all different backgrounds,” said Chan, a three-year veteran of the team. “It gives us a taste of what we can accomplish.”

For the students at Josiah Quincy Upper School, the debate squad gives students a team they can call their own. For football, athletes must play for South Boston.”

Also, a photographer was there and took literally hundreds of pictures, but the only photo accompanying the piece was a still from the film. Still, it was great to get the exposure and media attention!