Who is the Best in the Country?
Every year the speech and debate community argues about the best debaters and speakers in the land. But arguing about it with regional and school biases is pointless. Let’s settle it the objective way—with an actual national points ranking system.
Weights are assigned to the most important open tournaments across the country for each NFL main event. Competitors who place well in these events earn points (something akin to the year’s money list for professional golf.)
Does this include every good student in the country? Probably not. We all know that financial and state constraints keep some students from competing on the national circuit. But the ranking system includes tournaments from all regions of America, including both national championships, which are open to all. And I can only measure what does happen, not what might have happened.
Weights are assigned to the most important open tournaments across the country for each NFL main event. Competitors who place well in these events earn points (something akin to the year’s money list for professional golf.)
Does this include every good student in the country? Probably not. We all know that financial and state constraints keep some students from competing on the national circuit. But the ranking system includes tournaments from all regions of America, including both national championships, which are open to all. And I can only measure what does happen, not what might have happened.
Sponsored by The Institute for Speech and Debate.
