From a classroom speech to a future job interview, learning how to comfortably speak in front of people can unlock a world of opportunities – and it’s never too early to start.

Starting in September, the Hillsboro Public Library will host the Hillsboro Youth Speech & Debate program for students in grades 4 through 6.

Hillsboro Youth Speech & Debate (grades 4–6)
1st & 3rd Fridays, 4 – 5 pm
Shute Park Library: 1st Fridays (Nov. 1 at Brookwood; no meeting on Jan. 3)
Brookwood Library: 3rd Fridays (also on Nov. 1 & May 30)

Two times each month throughout the 2024-25 school year, the Speech & Debate program will:

• talk about the basic elements of public speaking and debating
• give students a chance to practice and grow their confidence and experience
• connect students in small groups to work together
• and listen to guest speakers share their wisdom from their own experiences

The program is led by City of Hillsboro Communications Manager Patrick Preston, who competed as a high school student in Lincoln-Douglas debate, extemporaneous speaking, and other speaking events.

“Learning public speaking skills early builds confidence, promotes empathy and open-mindedness for other points of view, and it can be a foundation for lifelong success. Plus, it’s fun!” Preston said. “It also supports student success in school by developing critical thinking, reading, and writing skills.”

Learning from Local Leaders

One of the best ways to get more comfortable with public speaking is to learn from people with experience.

Some of the guest speakers who have committed to share their experiences with Hillsboro Youth Speech & Debate participants include:

• Hillsboro Mayor Steve Callaway (guest speaker on Sept 6 & Sept 20)
• State Representative Susan McLain, the former Speech & Debate Coach at Glencoe High School and a member of the Oregon Speech & Debate Hall of Fame (guest speaker on October 4)
• Hillsboro Fire Chief David Downey (guest speaker on October 18)
• Hillsboro Police Chief Jim Coleman
• Hillsboro School District Superintendent Travis Reiman
• Hillsboro Assistant City Manager Simone Brooks
• Hillsboro City Manager Robby Hammond

“These leaders’ enthusiasm to give their time and share their best tips and lessons with the students in this program is a great learning opportunity,” Preston says.

Never Too Early to Debate

Practicing how to speak in front of others can give students the confidence to deliver a future class presentation. Learning how to effectively debate is another matter entirely. That’s why Hillsboro Youth Speech & Debate introduces both speaking skills and debating skills.

With age-appropriate topics such as “Is ice cream the best dessert?” or “Should students have cell phones in school?”, students in the speech and debate program will gain experience coming up with reasons to support both sides of an argument, then respectfully debating the other side.

Before parents worry their children will return home ready to argue at full volume, Preston emphasizes the importance of respectful disagreement within the structure of debating.

“Yelling and interrupting are not debating skills. Neither is name-calling or insulting your opponent,” Preston says. “The most accomplished debaters are outstanding at researching, preparing, listening, asking questions, analyzing information quickly, summarizing, and remaining calm throughout the debate. These are skills you can feel good about your child developing.”

Creating a Speech & Debate Program in Hillsboro

High school students throughout Oregon compete in speech and debate during the school year, with a series of smaller competitions that culminate in an annual Oregon School Activities Association (OSAA) tournament each spring. The OSAA tournament played a key role in inspiring Preston to work toward the creation of a youth speech & debate program in Hillsboro.

“My daughter and I went to the Oregon High School Speech & Debate Championships in 2023 and we noticed something surprising – there were no students from Hillsboro,” Preston recalled. “After that, I reached out to local debate coaches to learn more. Some schools did not have programs and we heard that many students entering high school were unfamiliar with speech and debate. So there wasn’t as much built-in knowledge or enthusiasm for getting involved compared to schools in Beaverton, Portland, and Lake Oswego.”

Working with his daughter as a family project, Preston developed short-term and long-term program plans to give students a taste of how fun speech and debate can be – and to create a foundation for students in Hillsboro to be ready and excited to pursue speech and debate later on.

One of the key voices Preston checked in with was State Representative Susan McLain, a legendary former speech and debate coach at Glencoe High School, who was inducted into the National High School Hall of Fame in 2022 and the Oregon High School Speech & Debate Hall of Fame in 2023.

“Representative McLain’s guidance and encouragement were incredibly meaningful,” Preston said. “Her expertise and her impact as a speech and debate coach, her words of support and her commitment to be involved really helped get this program started.”

Partnering with the Hillsboro Public Library was the final step. Library staff members Stacy Johnson, Linda Osuna, and Mary Loftin helped create the pathway to launching the program on Friday afternoons at Shute Park Library and Brookwood Library.

"The Hillsboro Youth Speech & Debate program will be a free, inclusive opportunity for Hillsboro students to gain valuable experience with public speaking and debate. As Hillsboro Public Library's Student Success Librarian and our Teen Theater Troupe leader, I know firsthand how these skills help build confidence and can take you far no matter what career you pursue," said Kate Whitman, Student Success Librarian. "This is an amazing chance for our students to learn from City leadership and will show them how invested our City is in their success."

Click here to learn more about Hillsboro Youth Speech & Debate and register for the program.