Teaching Thanks and Giving to Students
This article was originally published in the November 2012 of the Rostrum
A debate coach’s job does not begin and end with the ring of a bell and often drags on past a debate season’s completion. With the countless hours spent teaching ideas, thought processes, and appropriate social interactions to students, a debate coach quickly becomes a life coach.
In November, besides preparing students for another month of competition, coaches have a chance to teach students about Thanksgiving. More than a hallmark holiday punctuated with the smells of turkey and cranberry sauce, this month is about teaching students to be appreciative of what they have. In that vein, I want to suggest two major areas to teach Thanksgiving: giving thanks and giving back.
First, students should learn the lost art of writing thank you notes. A necessity for strong interview skills and for the adult professional and personal life, some students can’t compute the concept of writing a thank you note for someone who gave of their time. A great way to begin students on thank you notes is to ask them to identify individuals who have given their time, talent, or funds to support their debate success. An alumnus may have donated time to watch a practice debate; a coach of a nearby team may have given a particularly helpful post round decision. With a stack of thank you notes in hand (widely available in any Dollar Store, Dollar General, or other discount store), ask students to identify one individual and thank them for their investment. With a brainstorming list, these thank you notes not only will teach your students this important skill, but will also help your program continue to maintain folks willing to give of their time.
Although students will be inclined to first think of the individuals who are visible to them, brainstorm the many folks who are necessary to make the team run. The principal, a registrar, or counselor who assigns classes, the custodians who clean up after tournaments, and/or a bus driver all make the team happen. Really talk to them about what goes into making a team function.
Often people are quick to assume that because it is someone’s job to do something that they needn’t be thanked. However, debate teams are often at the margins of people’s actual responsibilities. The number of school employees who spend extra time cutting a check, who wait to drive them home even when a tournament is an hour behind, or who do any of the other million necessary steps to get students safely to and from an event will amaze even some of the most sophisticated teenagers. Ask them again to write a thank you note to these individuals and include a message about what debate has meant to them. More than just teaching students to be thankful, you’re also teaching students that debate is a large operation.
Giving is often a more complicated objective to teach. Students are often eager to judge at tournaments, but one of the best ways to teach them to give is by connecting them as mentors with younger students on your team. By having juniors and seniors “adopt” a first- or second-year team, they create the sense of team unity that is so important for success. Turning over a debate practice or class to students is another great way to empower them and allow them to give back to students. Much like a debate round requires preparation, however, emphasize that teaching also requires advance preparation. Writing a lesson plan with an objective and activity to go with it will make you feel more comfortable about turning the period over to the students and also teach them how to think through major presentations in their adult careers.
Thanksgiving may only be one day a year, but the principles of appreciating other individuals can and should be applied year round even in our competitive activity. By teaching students not just how to anticipate an opponent’s argument but also to anticipate the kind of gratitude someone would like to have, they will be stronger and more capable leaders. Hopefully they’ll send you a thank you note for your patience in teaching them about thanking and giving.
Nicole Serrano is the Executive Director of the Dallas Urban Debate Alliance