Beginning with the 2007-2008 school year, the DCUDLl offered the High School Public Debate Program, the first of its kind in the nation! Based on the highly successful Middle School Public Debate Program, this format will allow students to explore a wide array of issues while developing important skills through debate.  It this format, three-person student teams engage each other over multiple topics selected each more by their coaches, keeping the issues relevant and on-going research essential.  The High School Public Debate Program is designed to emphasize extemporaneous public speaking skills as well as critical thinking and strategic argumentation.  The outstanding success of this program will only continue during its third season!

Topics debated during the 2008-2009 season

Prostitution should be legalized in the US.
The US should permit unrestricted travel and trade with Cuba.
Marion Barry has done more good than harm for DC.
Internet social networking has a positive effect on high school students.
Honesty is the best policy.
The USA should disregard human rights as a component of its international
trade policy.
The United States prison at Guantanamo Bay should remain open.
All college and university admission applications should exclude questions about race and ethnicity.
The No Child Left Behind Act is a successful policy*.
All boys and girls should required to get the HVP vaccine to register for high school.
The US should pass a constitutional amendment eliminating that future presidents be natural born citizens.
The US embargo of Cuba should be lifted.
The District of Columbia should enact an open age safe haven law.
The legalization of prostitution in the US would do more good than harm.
The random search of passenger bags by Metro is justified.
There is no place for military recruitment in high schools.
The DC government should guarantee permanent housing for the District’s chronically homeless.
Federal government bailouts of industries do more harm than good.
The further expansion of NATO will reignite the Cold War.
The implementation of the proposed Anacostia Waterfront Initiative Framework Plan will do more good than harm.
The DC Metropolitan Police Department checkpoints in Trinidad did more harm than good.
18 year olds should be allowed to purchase and consume alcohol in the United States.
Russia¹s invasion of Georgia was justified.

Topics debated during the 2007-2008 season are:
The death penalty does more good than harm.
Racial profiling is an appropriate tool in law enforcement.
The US should lead an international effort to replace the current regime in Sudan.
Single sex schools do more good than harm.
DCPS should be required to reserve all closed schools for affordable housing.
Hip Hop does more good than harm.
Health care in the United States is a privilege, not a right.
The United States should leave NAFTA.
DC public schools should discontinue the celebration of Black History Month.
Ipod use in schools does more good than harm.
All DC public schools should have childcare facilities on site.
The DC government should ban use of plastic bags by retail establishments.
In a democracy, civil disobedience is a necessary weapon in the fight for justice.
Animal testing does more good than harm.
All DC public schools should adopt uniform high school exit exams.
The District of Columbia should be granted statehood.
The front-loading of the US presidential primaries is a threat to democracy.
The United States should make a preemptive strike on Iran.
All DC public schools should adopt year-round schedules.
RFK Stadium should be demolished and replaced with affordable housing.
The United States should have a military draft.
The fence along the US/Mexico border is justified.
Mandatory high school uniforms do more harm than good.
The District of Columbia City Council should overturn the ban on handguns.
Social Networking websites should be restricted for those under that age of 18.
The United States should set a deadline for the withdrawal of troops from Iraq.