From Silence to Spark: How East Side Union High School District Teachers Are Using Debate to Ignite Student Voice
Earlier this June, more than 30 dedicated educators from the East Side Union High School District came together for a dynamic two-day professional development seminar hosted by the Silicon Valley Urban Debate League (SVUDL). The workshop, “Igniting Minds, Amplifying Voices,” showcased how Debate-Centered Instruction (DCI) can transform any classroom into a lively space where students don’t just learn content — they learn to think, speak, and lead.
Over the course of eight hands-on sessions, teachers stepped into their students’ shoes, experiencing activities that blend debate, argumentation, and collaborative inquiry into daily lessons across disciplines. In a math session, teachers tackled the age-old sports argument: Who is the greatest NBA player of all time? by analyzing player stats and constructing data-driven claims.
In English, participants turned Edgar Allan Poe’s The Tell-Tale Heart into a mock trial, weighing evidence and testimony to decide if the narrator was guilty of murder or insane. Science teachers got creative with the Bond Superhero Debate, designing superheroes from ionic, covalent, metallic, or network bonds to compare material properties in a fun, competitive format. In Social Science, a Four Corners discussion on “Fugitive Pedagogy” invited teachers to examine historical documents and grapple with the legacy of education as resistance in Black history.
These activities are more than clever hooks — they’re proven methods to deepen student engagement and promote the habits of mind essential for democracy: making claims, analyzing evidence, asking questions, and defending ideas in civil discourse. As one teacher wrote, “Debate-centered planning can be used in all subject areas to support students at every level.”
Teachers were overwhelmingly enthusiastic about the experience. Ragiah El Shantaly, a science teacher at Evergreen High School, called it “one of the best PDs I have ever attended.” Allison Liang from Silver Creek High School appreciated that the training was “engaging with examples and modeling.” Joe Lovato, a veteran English teacher at Mount Pleasant High School, noted, “I’m very satisfied with this experience and appreciate the scope of the workshop.” And Jan Gliozzo from Evergreen Valley High School summed it up simply: “Debate is engaging and a great way to have students dive deep and analyze content.”
By the end of the two days, teachers left not just with new lesson ideas, but with a renewed commitment to helping students find and use their voices — a mission at the heart of SVUDL’s work. As classrooms reopen in the fall, these educators will carry forward strategies to ensure students do more than memorize facts: they will challenge ideas, listen to different viewpoints, and build the confidence to advocate for themselves and their communities.
SVUDL is proud to stand alongside the East Side Union High School District’s teachers as they light the spark of debate and inquiry in thousands of young minds — because when students speak up, democracy grows stronger.
