Speaker's Corner

Photo: RichVintage

Kids should be required to stand up at least once in front of the entire school and argue for something.  Anything.  In public.  They should also be required to participate in  public debates, duels between two opposing positions requiring rhetorical skills, research and some measure of commitment and passion.  The Speaker's Corner is the venue serving both goals.  By institutionalizing the venue, perhaps we can institutionalize the activity, another small step to bringing Rhetoric back as an important skill in school and in life.

Photo: Keystone/Getty Images