A group of Madison Central students has literally taken on the world, from Moscow to Chile to South Africa, and beaten all challengers. As a reward, they are taking a trip to the world's capital.
Students at Madison Central came out on top in the global competition known as The People Speak, a debate series that challenged American and international students to discuss and write about climate change and water resources.
For their efforts over the last several months, Maggie Brister, Ben Elam, Eric Rudsenske and Cameron Worrell, with the help of teachers Brett Mayfield and Laura Sue McClure, garnered the highest number of points for The People Speak challenge out of any school in the U.S. or abroad, tallying 4,750 points.
As a reward for their victory over other high schools near and abroad, the foursome along with Mayfield and McClure will travel to the United Nations Youth Leadership Summit from July 17 to July 19, along with the other top 10 schools in the U.S. and the top six point-getters among international schools.
The summit will allow students to participate in a service learning project, attend presentations by U.N. officials, and go on a tour of the U.N. headquarters at Turtle Bay. Mayfield, the debate team coach, and McClure, an environmental science teacher, will also attend training sessions concerning how to integrate global issues into classroom lessons.
The four students participated in a debate in mid-October where they argued the merits of private and government methods of controlling climate change.
Afterwards, in a poll of the school's student body, 1,080 students voted on questions such as whether the debates changed their minds on the issue of climate change, and whether they learned new information.
In addition, the four students participating in The People Speak earned points by writing essays and letters to public officials and posting blog entries on the topic.
The four students also produced four 60-second Public Service Announcement videos on the topic slated to be posted on the Internet.
In the final standings, Madison Central received 50 more points than any other U.S. high school, beating out Brother Rice High School from Bloomfield, Mich.
The top international school, Evanjelicke Gynazium in Tisovec, Slovakia, came in 200 points behind Madison Central.
The students participating in The People Speak will have another debate at Madison Central on March 24.
During a ceremony recognizing The People Speak participants at a county school board meeting last week, Superintendent of Schools Mike Kent joked that they may be better suited to tackle even bigger problems.
"We should consider booking this team on a trip to the Middle East instead," he said, getting a laugh from those in the room.
am in Ghana,an a student of the mfantsipim school.even though i havent read a lot i know you are really doing great and i want you to know that we in Ghana are behind you.an article which has become a platform for the youth to let their voice be heard.Greatness does not consist of being great but making others great and that is what you people are doing and i pray God will continue to fuel your zeal to continue your good job.and will be happy to be part of this service to humanity
Posted: Tuesday, May 13, 2008
Article comment by:
kasongo
I totaly appreciate this article since it shows how well the people speak youth are doing well for their own future and for all the wold in general. Go ahead until the end...
