January 23, 2009

Forensics program builds student skills in diocesan schools

Ned Andrew Solomon, Tennessee Register 

There is hope for parents whose children talk too much in school. Forensics, sometimes referred to as The Art of Public Speaking, provides opportunities for students to show their smarts while debating with other students, or performing a variety of different kinds of oral presentations.

“I tell parents, if your child gets demerits for talking in class, let them join this club and get an award for it!” said Chris Melton, the forensics coordinator for the Nashville Diocese, and the forensics coach at Holy Rosary Academy. “There are also a lot of children who want to learn how to talk, or maybe their parents want them to be more confident. There are children who are very quiet in the classroom, and I’ve seen them get very brave.”

Eleven Catholic schools in the diocese participate. Melton’s job is to make sure all the coaches are clear on the rules, and to facilitate the meetings where tournament dates and locations are set, along with competition categories.

“Throughout the year I’m also here to answer questions, or make clarifications, like when there’s a tie or a discrepancy,” said Melton. “Then I have to give the ruling.”

This year’s competing events include the recent Jan. 10 St. Cecilia Invitational, a Feb. 21 Father Ryan Diocesan tournament, a March 7 Overbrook Invitational and a March 14 Championship at St. Ann School. The St. Cecilia and Overbrook Invitationals are open to the Nashville Diocesan schools, as well as other invited Catholic and public schools.

“I think that forensics is an integral part of the educational environment of Christ the King,” said Chris Hofstetter, who has been involved in forensics at the school for four years, first, as a parent volunteer, then an assistant coach, and now in her second year as the head coach. “For the students, they learn to understand and embrace the art of public speaking. They learn to harness their fear, anxiety and excitement of performing in front of people.”

Hofstetter appreciates the fact that students have an opportunity to compete for individual recognition as well as being part of a team that represents their school. “While the students get excited when they win an individual medal or trophy, they go berserk when our school places in the overall sweepstakes championship,” Hofstetter said.

The diocesan program is open to all fifth through eighth graders. The individual students may choose to compete in a variety of categories, which include one-act plays, prose and poetry interpretations, and improvisation.

Joe Zanger, an attorney in White House, has been the forensics coach at St. Joseph School in Madison for three years. His daughter, Clare, has been involved for the last four. “Forensics is worth becoming involved in because the students learn skills they can use for the rest of their lives,” said Zanger. “They learn to organize their thoughts, speak in front of crowds, and gain a self-confidence that simply cannot be achieved in any other activity.

“I’ve seen this manifest itself as Clare has interviewed during the high school admissions process this year,” Zanger continued. “She is confident, well-spoken and very much at ease with the adults who are talking to her.”

Those grown-up attributes don’t come without a great deal of discipline. The students practice every day, and occasionally, visit a younger group within their school to perform their pieces. “The children do much better if they have an audience, and the younger kids love it,” said Melton. “Sometimes the children critique each other. That’s an important part of forensics, to learn how to positively critique. And take it!” 

The adult judges – mostly parent volunteers from the schools or the community at large – base their scores on a variety of items, depending on the type of competition: How does the student set the mood? Does he or she have a smooth delivery? They also discern the quality of student eye contact, volume, emphasis, intensity, enunciation, pacing, expressiveness and projection.

The topics of the competing presentations do not have to be of a Catholic nature, but, according to Melton, the program is working toward incorporating more faith into the events. “One category is called audition, and the student uses a piece of prose or a dialogue from a play,” said Melton. “We ask that those be from a Christian reading, or something with a virtue involved.”

Whatever the subject matter, the end result appears to be a more well-rounded student, who may someday make a positive contribution to the world beyond their school. “When you combine the challenging academic curriculum at our diocesan schools with the skills that forensics teaches, you produce a truly impressive young person that is equipped to tackle the next steps of their education,” said Zanger. “And, eventually, play significant leadership roles in our community.”

The diocesan forensics program is continually seeking judges, especially those who are not school parents, to ensure unbiased judging. Those interested in helping out should e-mail Melton at meltonc@holyrosary.edu, or call (615) 883-1108.