The Magic of Debate Centered Instruction
"We use a social justice lens when examining legal issues," Damien explains. "Students don't just learn about contract law or intellectual property—they visit with actual legal panels and ask the questions that matter to them: What's your day really like? How do you handle difficult cases? How do you know when you've made the right decision?"
What makes Damien's approach truly special is his integration of Debate Centered Instruction (DCI) into his classroom, courtesy of his partnership with SVUDL’s Director of Programs, Dr. Robert Burns. This partnership has transformed how students engage with complex legal thinking.
"It's all about the arguments and learning to persuade," Damien says. "DCI gives students a platform to be more thoughtful about their reasoning while tackling real issues like First Amendment rights and voting access."
The results speak for themselves. Students who rarely participate suddenly become classroom leaders. One memorable moment stands out: a student who hadn't turned in work all semester delivered what Damien calls a "literal mic drop" performance during a debate.
The journey to DCI wasn't planned. During the height of the COVID-19 pandemic, when Damien found himself teaching to "black boxes"on Zoom instead of engaged faces in person, Dr. Burns suggested trying a debate format. The connection was instant.
"Once I saw what it was like, I didn't let him leave," Damien laughs. "Now he's permanently in my sphere, and we've been working closely together ever since."
Recently, Damien's class tackled First Amendment issues through a case study that hit close to home: a high school student suspended and removed from the cheer team for a Snapchat post. The engagement was immediate and intense.
"When you give students content they care about, they respond quickly," he notes. "This directly relates to their daily school life—when can administration step in regarding social media behavior?"
For Damien, the benefits of DCI extend far beyond academic achievement. "I'm always trying to persuade people," he reflects. "The skill set of making successful arguments is needed everywhere."
While he acknowledges the challenges—student anxiety, fear of looking foolish, general nervousness about public speaking—Damien has developed creative solutions. Some students contribute through research, others through writing, and some take the necessary time to develop the courage to try to speak in a debate setting.
Damien's advice to fellow educators is simple but powerful: "Everyone should try DCI at least once, regardless of subject matter. By centering kids' interests, it's a win for everyone."
His transformation from someone who "always hated" debate to a passionate advocate shows the power of seeing these skills through an educator's lens. As he puts it, "I'm constantly rethinking what I'm doing and asking myself: is there a better way?"
