Monday Meditation: Time to Give Thanks
November 19, 2007 – 4:42 pm by: Cory PuuriI had an internal debate about the subject of this article and approach to delivering this Monday Meditation and, well, I won, but that’s beside the point.
I wanted to write this meditation about eliminating policy debate in the state in favor of public forum. My justification was as follows (please don’t take this personally or seriously, this was the debate that went on inside my head where I don’t pull punches):
a) Public Forum is growing and the quality is improving while policy is shrinking and the quality is declining.
b) The best Public Forum teams stay in the state most weekends while the best policy teams either take in-state tournaments off or go out of state most weekends.
c) Coaches in the WDCA seem to leave PF alone to let the students develop the event as they see fit, whereas coaches pass arcane rules to limit the development of Policy and make students dislike debating in the state.
d) Public Forum resolutions change over time keeping it fresh, while Policy is the same, tired resolution for an entire year.
e) The WDCA Policy schedule is condensed into a dozen tournaments in 3 months, whereas PF extends a little into the Forensics season reducing the need to go to almost every tournament.
…but my biggest concern with Policy over PF is….
f) PF tournaments get done fast, which allows us more time with our families and friends on the weekend, while Policy is a massive time suck.
Because item F was my biggest concern, I decided that instead of proposing to eliminate Policy debate in the state at this time (…I reserve the right to propose this at the Spring Meeting), I would let my festive self win out and use this Monday Meditation to make a list of things I am thankful for, including:
1) My wife (Becky) - While sometimes I sense she is working the union rep to negotiate for the elimination of debate from the teachers’ contract with the district, she really has been pretty darn supportive of me pursuing my second love (second to family, of course). One would think a debate coach would never be at a loss for words, but I have no words that are suitable to describe how much I appreciate and love her. I am truly thankful for my wife!
2) My girls (Lauren (soon to be 4) and Jenna (2)) - If you could see the smile on my face right now, that would be the best expression of how much I appreciate them : - D. As I said the day Lauren was born, my cheeks hurt I am smiling so much! They are a seemingly endless source of entertainment, love and happiness for my wife and me. I am quite thankful for my girls!
3) My parents and sisters - My mom takes care of our girls while my wife and I are at work. My dad just completely re-landscaped our backyard with some (really not much) help from me (I warned him September-November was not a good time for me). And my sisters and their families are pretty darn cool to be around…when I am around. I am immeasurably thankful for my parents and extended family!
4) Assistant coaches and the Debate Community - I am thankful for my assistant coaches who help me keep my sanity (what’s left of it) and the community…well, really just the coaches in it who provide great conversation and good times. I’ll name a few particularly cool people in no particular order…Joe K, Kristi, Jim Sauer, Neil Young, Mike Traas, Bill Batterman, Bubb, Scheffler…the list could go on and on. You people rock! Thanks for the time spent chatting at tournaments!
5) Employers - I guess I am thankful for my employers even though I am a pawn of the Capitalist Machine, in which I am exploited, manipulated and complicit in the destruction of our environment…oops…sorry…I am thankful that I get paid to coach an activity I enjoy and that my other employer lets me take off for debate and helps me pay my mortgage.
6) Lastly, some, but not all, of the students - Some of them get on my nerves and are just not fun to be around (I probably get on their nerves, too…oh well). Others I wouldn’t mind adopting because they are sweet, kind, cool and incredibly entertaining. Those are the ones I am truly thankful for!
During this Thanksgiving Break, it is appropriate and necessary that we reflect on the things we are thankful for and express that thanks. Start thinking now about what you are going to say on Thursday as you and your loved ones are expressing the people (and things) for which they are truly thankful.
Happy Thanksgiving!!!
3 Responses to “Monday Meditation: Time to Give Thanks”
I’ll join in…1) My parents–they’ve helped me through alot in my few years on this earth.
2) Chad Soik–He’s taught me alot about communicating with kids (which is really helpful since I want to teach) and deals with all the budget-based issues that would drive me mad.
3) The debate community–Our activity wouldn’t be the same without the interesting stories between rounds or the joint-team dinners on a late Saturday night. This activity wouldn’t be CLOSE to as fun without the community.
4) Mentors–especially within debate; all those who have been around the activity/coaching aspect of the activity longer than I have and have been so eager and willing to provide advice and offer support.
5) The students–I wouldn’t coach if it wasn’t for the amount of academic growth I’ve seen in almost every student that’s ever debated. Cutting cards and creating strategies can be fun, but I think it would all be pretty futile if not for the speed and accuracy with which debate teaches students to learn.
By Jvoss on Nov 19, 2007
I can’t agree with Cory enough - what a great meditation…and it does provide food for thought. While I began my debate career as a policy debater, and it’s how I paid for college, Lincoln Douglas debate was also very important to me, and I can see how Public Forum is becoming important to this new generation of debaters…And I can’t say that I’m sorry when there’s not a semi-final and final in Policy at my tournament so I can go home earlier. I’m always amazed at my Forensics tournament - it’s 4:00 pm and everything is cleaned up and we can go home. Debate can be an exhaustingly long activity sometimes. But, the benefits of this activity, in all its forms, are immeasurable. Here’s what I’m thankful for this season:
* The debate community in Wisconsin. It truly is a second family for many people. I don’t know where I would be today without the guidance of Clif as a coach and later as a mentor. I’ve known Neil and Cory longer than most of my close friends. I remember Mike in his first years of coaching and Jim pulling out his typewriter for our ballots. Coaches in other activities don’t understand the strange bond we share in this activity. We don’t just watch from the sidelines - we’re in the mix of everything - and it connects us as coaches and friends.
* Students - I don’t think any of us would stay in this activity if it weren’t for great students. Again, because of the nature of this sport, we share a lot with our students. My friends laugh when I call them my “kids”…but they really are. They share a lot of their lives with me, and I share with them. This is what keeps kids involved in the activity far beyond high school. It’s how we can reach troubled kids and provide an outlet for them. Yes, there are a few I could do without, but on the whole, I am blessed with a great team.
This activity can be a thorn in my side - and maybe I’m just feeling happy because there’s no tournament this weekend - but it’s good to reflect on the positives of debate, and think about how we can make it even better for coaches and students.
By Kristi Plamann on Nov 20, 2007
i give thanks for policy debate, the in-state policy community, and late nights at tournaments.
By Laurel Mills on Nov 21, 2007