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The Minnesota Discussion LeagueAuthor(s): F. E. LurtonSource: The English Journal, Vol. 6, No. 7 (Sep., 1917), pp. 475-476Published by: National Council of Teachers of EnglishStable URL: http://www.jstor.org/stable/801106 .
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TElE ROUND TABLE TElE ROUND TABLE 475 475
SCENE: Wntten for three interiors. PEZOD: Modern. TI1WE OF ACTION: A full evening. PRODUCTION:
Amateur-Senior Class of Union High School, Turtle Creek, Pennsyl- vania, in Y.M.C.A. auditorium, Wilmerding, Pennsylvania.
REQUIREMENTS: SGage.-As arranged for high-school production, one set of scenery, but
one panel with window removed during the third act, and a panel without window, but with a fireplace taking its place. Scenery hung with college pennants during the first act. Act II, all furniture removed and benches substituted to represent dressing-room of football team. Act III, library furniture. Act IV, the same. A victrola is needed behind scenes to play during the ball scene. Light- ing may be very elaborate, but was reduced to footlights and regular beam lights.
Costume. Modern, men must have football suits and evening clothes. Cheacters. Strongheart: tall, straight, dark, good voice. Saunders:
somewhat inclined to be rough. Others, the usual types follnd among high-school boys; girls, rather colorless, but must be pretty.
Expense. Total cost of production: Use of hall $30. oo. Dress suits $20.75. Make-up material, $3.oo. Copyright, $25.00. Scenery, $26.oo.
COMMENT: Strongheart requires a large number of characters, which makes it desirable for high-school production. The football scene especially appeals to the boys. The play teaches indirectly the law of races and the lesson of duty.
FLORA M. PROWDLEY WILKINSBIJRG, VA.
THE MINNESOTA DISCUSSION LEAGUE The last twenty years have witnessed great advances in the teaching
of English in the high schools. In more recent years careful consideration has been given to spoken English. This has assumed several forms. Outside the classroom, and especially outside the individual high school, it has been confined princi?ally to debating and to declamatory work. The former obliges several students of varying ability to do team worl and rise or fall as a unit. The latter gives no training in constructive work, but merely in interpretation.
The high schools of Minnesota have established? under the leadership of Macalester College, a third form of public speaking that promises well after two years of successful trial. I refer to the Discussion League. A brief description may not be amiss at this point. Some question of
SCENE: Wntten for three interiors. PEZOD: Modern. TI1WE OF ACTION: A full evening. PRODUCTION:
Amateur-Senior Class of Union High School, Turtle Creek, Pennsyl- vania, in Y.M.C.A. auditorium, Wilmerding, Pennsylvania.
REQUIREMENTS: SGage.-As arranged for high-school production, one set of scenery, but
one panel with window removed during the third act, and a panel without window, but with a fireplace taking its place. Scenery hung with college pennants during the first act. Act II, all furniture removed and benches substituted to represent dressing-room of football team. Act III, library furniture. Act IV, the same. A victrola is needed behind scenes to play during the ball scene. Light- ing may be very elaborate, but was reduced to footlights and regular beam lights.
Costume. Modern, men must have football suits and evening clothes. Cheacters. Strongheart: tall, straight, dark, good voice. Saunders:
somewhat inclined to be rough. Others, the usual types follnd among high-school boys; girls, rather colorless, but must be pretty.
Expense. Total cost of production: Use of hall $30. oo. Dress suits $20.75. Make-up material, $3.oo. Copyright, $25.00. Scenery, $26.oo.
COMMENT: Strongheart requires a large number of characters, which makes it desirable for high-school production. The football scene especially appeals to the boys. The play teaches indirectly the law of races and the lesson of duty.
FLORA M. PROWDLEY WILKINSBIJRG, VA.
THE MINNESOTA DISCUSSION LEAGUE The last twenty years have witnessed great advances in the teaching
of English in the high schools. In more recent years careful consideration has been given to spoken English. This has assumed several forms. Outside the classroom, and especially outside the individual high school, it has been confined princi?ally to debating and to declamatory work. The former obliges several students of varying ability to do team worl and rise or fall as a unit. The latter gives no training in constructive work, but merely in interpretation.
The high schools of Minnesota have established? under the leadership of Macalester College, a third form of public speaking that promises well after two years of successful trial. I refer to the Discussion League. A brief description may not be amiss at this point. Some question of
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476 THE ENGLISH JOURNAL
vital public interest is selected. Last year it was the enlargement cxf the narry; this year the government ownership of the railroads. Each participating student selects either side of the question and writes an eight-minute discussion of the question as a whole or of any phase of it. He may, indeed, discuss both sides if he chooses. He is alscy allowed a three-minute concluding speech, or " rebuttal,>' to reply to any arguments of the other speakers which may have tended to weaken his own con- tentions.
Contiguously located high schools of the state are allowed to form themselares into groups. The representative of each school is usually chosen in a local contest; then the schools of a given group meet at some central point and in a public contest select the representative of the group to go to the state contest. At the state contest a gold medal is awarded to the winner; a silver medal to the one ranking second, and bronze medals to all other contestants.
The object sought through all the League's activities are facility in thinking and in expression, the ability to discuss a question con- arincingly before an audience, good-fellowship among the schools, and interest in important public questions. Two years' association with the League contrinces me that all of these are being attained to a gratifying degree. Standing midway between debating and declamation, it opens up a promising field for effort in oral English.
A word about the organization may be helpful. Professor Glenn Clark, of Macalester College, acts as permanent head of the League. The superintendent of the winning school in each group acts as district manager the succeeding year. These persons, acting in accordance with the provisions of a carefully worked-out constitution, conduct all the affairs of the League.
F. E. LURTON SUPERINTENDENT OF SCHOOLS EAST GRAND Fos, MZN.
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