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Speech and Debate Programs
Our Speech and Debate programs seek to develop student potential in the areas of written and oral communication.
The North East ISD Speech and Debate programs have enjoyed several years of success in local, regional, state, and national competition. Students are encouraged and challenged by their coaches to compete at their highest level. The philosophy behind the programs is based upon the extension of classroom curriculum and ensures each student has the oppurtunity to explore beyond the basics become immersed in their chosen field of interest.
Coach Brian Eanes with Humorist Interpretation Finalist Erica Martinez and Four-Year National Qualifer Alex Castro at NSDA Nationals
The NEISD Speech & Debate programs involve individual and group performances in classroom and competitive settings. The programs' content standards focus on presentation skills, analytical thinking and communication theory.
Eligibility
Communication Applications is offered at every NEISD high school as a graduation requirement in compliance with State of Texas current regulations. Other speech courses offered as electives at the high school level are:
- Debate
- Oral Interpretations
- Individual Studies
Presently, 13 middle schools in the district offer a debate course. The speech staff consists of 12 fully certified speech specialists. There are approximately 300 middle school students and 200 high school students enrolled in these speech programs.
Budgets for supporting these programs are campus-based and are enhanced with fundraising activities. The District Fine Arts budget provides additional support with money for transportation to contests, entry fees, hotel fees, supplies, equipment and assistance with hiring clinicians for the teams prior to the post-season schedule.
Expectations
Each high school program competes in Texas Forensic Association (TFA), National Forensic League (NFL), University of Kentucky's Tournament of Champions (TOC) and UIL meets. The tournament season continues throughout the year beginning in August and ending in June. These competitive events include:
- Cross-Examination Debate
- Lincoln Douglas Debate
- Duet Acting
- Dramatic Interpretation
- Humorous Interpretation
- Domestic Extemporaneous Speaking
- Foreign Extemporaneous Speaking
- Original Oratory
- Duo Interpretation
- Prose Reading
- Poetry Reading
- Congressional Debate
- Public Forum
- Informative
- World School Debate
- Program Oral Interpretation
Students in each program attend an average of 10 tournaments a year with an additional 4 post-season tournaments for schools with qualifying students.
