The Minneapolis journal., 1903-12-07
HIGH SCHOOL DEBATING LEAGUE
New Feature of Annual Medal
Essay-Prospects Several Districts

Essay Prospects in tho Several
If Minnesota schools do not produce
good writer's and speakers the fault
cannot be laid at the door of The
| Minneapolis journal. The en-
| couragement which this paper has
| long offered to grade pupils thru the
years ago 1t presented a abeautiful
silver loving cup as a permanent prize
to the High School Debating League.
1t then supplemented this cup, which
was to be a school PRICE by three
very pretty and appropriate gold
badges, one for each member Of the
winning team.
When it was recently suggested
that the machinery was all in order
namely, the debating league-for
stion prize to the high school
students, T he J.ourn al promptly
placed at the disposal of this league
a gold medal which Is to be given to
that student who shall write the best
English composition. In the words of
the donor The prize will be some
thing handsome, something that the
| winner will be pleased to wear for It's
own beauty and intrinsic value, to say
nothing of the honor 1t symbolizes."
Open to All.
The new prize will be open to all
the schools belonging to the league; 1t
will be publicly awarded for the first
time at the final high school debate in
the university chapel April 15, 1904.
The rules governing the competition
will be announced thru T h ] our
n a in the near future.
For the present it Is sufficient to
say that the aim will be to test the
pupils ability to express his thoughts
in writing. If possible, the conditions
~ - ~ ,%11ry
cribbing or even the assistance :, and
criticism of generous instructors. We
wish to make clear the point that it
Is not to be a contest In skilful bor-
rowing nor a contest between in
structors. The composition must not
been produced after months Of col
Elaboration with teachers. It must be
a real test Of the pupils present ability
to write. It must be such a piece of
composition as he can produce six
days in the week. He must stand as
completely alone, in the production Of
it, as every man is supposed TO stand
before st. Peter.
This may be an ideal; impossible at
tainment, but with the stimulus Of
Th e Jour n a Is latest prize, and the
honest cooperation of superintendents
Within two weeks the subject and the
conditions will be announced.
Brush that rust off your pen!
The Debating League.
The Debating league gives every
promise of another successful year
probably the best since it's organiza-
ton. Twenty-Five schools are GER
tain to be in the contests-possibly
as many as thirty-four. At this date
several are uncertain as to whether
they can be ready for the prelimina-
rioS ivtv h
the syllabus and reading matter on
the question for debate. This is a
very hopeful sign. It indicates that a
large number of our best high
schools are taking more interest in
oral English and that sooner or later
they are likely to become members OF
the league and give their support to
organized effort.
In the first district, Austin, Bloom
ing Prairie and Owatonna, three OF
the four schools that contended for
honors last year, will meet again
They will be joined in the prelim-
inaries by Albert Lea, one Of the large
and excellent high schools in the
southern part Of the state. Dec. Is
Austin and Albert Lea will meet a
Austin and the two other schools
will meet at Owatonna. In this dis
trict the championship went to Owa
tonna in 1902 and to- Austin in 1908.
The second district will again b,
represented by, the three stronf
schools that were in the league las
year, Blue Earth City, Fairmont ant
Winnebago City. Sleepy Eye is be
per1ntendent Hendricks writes tha
his school will be in the preliminarie
if it can get ready in time, and if no
1t will join the league in the near fu
ture. Wells and Blue Earth hav
been champions in this district
Of
have been late in getting started, a
least they are late in reporting thei
intentions to their district director
Faribault is certain to enter an
Xambrota, Winona and Kenyon ma
- or may not contest with her for su
premacy. LIE Sueur and Faribau
have divided championship honors i
this district.
In the fourth district Clevelan
high is welcomed into the lists an
will make st. Paul Central compel
for honors which she has carried o
by default for the past two years. Ger
trail will welcome her competitor be
cause she has been handicapped 4
the past from lack of preliminar
practice. Notwithstanding this hand
cap Central has won a high place
the interdistrict contests both year
Last year she met Fergus Falls in til
finally and the year before she wo
district championship.
The fifth district will again be rel
resented in the preliminaries by he
four big schools, Central. East, Mort
and South. These schools are SO we
matched that even the preliminarit
are vigorous, high grade contests.
district championship stands to tt
credit Of both East and South, tho
should be said that North and Centr
did not enter until last year. TT
question now is, Twill the pie /
passed around or will East or Sout
insist on a second helping before the
neighbors get any?' e, . -
But little interest has yet bee
shown in debate in the sixth distric
Year before last st. Cloud develope
considerable enthusiasm and the
subsided. Last year Little Falls b.
care interested and prepared a su
prisingly strong team, but has not see
fit to continue. Long Prairie no
promises to Join the league If the
ara enough debaters in the school
warrant the action. Horton ThomI
son, the superintendent. Is an el
thusiast on the value of debate in I'll
secondary schools and he may be d
pended on to develop a good team
there is any available material.
In the seventh district matters a
considerably Sin the air" yet. II
ever reliable Benson will be in becau
Superintendent Hflleboe believes