Last month, Eloquence Academy partnered with the Rural Debate Initiative (RuDI). We hosted an Intro to Debate Seminar for 70 high school students at Tomales High School. The event marked the beginning of our ten-year initiative to bring our instructional programs into census-designated rural schools through place-based learning and strategic outreach.

Located in rural Tomales, California, within the Shoreline Unified School District, Tomales High School serves 240 students in grades 9 through 12. The school draws from a fifty-mile radius; some students travel more than ninety minutes from agricultural and coastal regions in the Marin and Sonoma counties. Declining enrollment has been a hurdle, with inflation and a declining population exacerbating the issue. In particular, teacher Ginny Geoghenan was interested in bringing debate to Tomales. According to Ginny, “[Tomales’ size] is our best-kept secret.” Everyone is eager to learn from one another. Ginny believes that debate can be an uplifting tool, allowing all students to defend themselves against misconceptions and biases outside the classroom.

Our Intro to Debate Seminars are scheduled during a school’s grade-wide assembly or town hall period with attendance required from all students. Each seminar begins with icebreakers and a short keynote about the positive impacts of debate, both anecdotal and statistical. Following the keynote, students are placed into breakout rooms and guided through their first debate round. Subsequently, all students complete a form to indicate interest in a consistent in-school coaching program. Even if some students find out debate is not for them, they see what a fun experience it is to speak and be heard.

Students, including intermediate English speakers and those with diverse learning needs, worked with our team members Aben Bhattachan, Spencer Chaisanguanthum, Reagan Fournier, Kaushik Sathiyandrakumar, Imad Shaikh, and Kira Waldhalm as well as Aadil Ali, Kelly Mu, Jared Shirts, Duer Tap, and Grant Zhang from RuDI. They formed meaningful relationships and developed an enthusiasm for public speaking, resulting in a 46% spike in interest in debate. Over the next year, Aadil and Director of Finance & Human Resources Mansi Arora will host weekly coachings in Policy Debate during Tomales’ tutorial, an optional class period dedicated to academic enrichment.

We are grateful to Ginny and excited to kick things off with Tomales.

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Eloquence Academy, Inc. is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization and 509(a)(2) public charity dedicated to increasing equitable academic debate opportunities for rural and historically underserved students. The Academy offers debate classes, summer camps, workshops, tournaments, in-school programs, and online resources for 2,200+ students across 35 states and 15 countries. Ultimately, EA aims to prepare youth for college readiness, career engagement, and community impact through the transferable skills gained from debate. Follow EA on Instagram and YouTube at @eloquenceacademy.

Rural Debate Initiative (RuDI) is a nationally focused 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization that provides free debate education to students in rural areas. Supported by a group of experienced educators and passionate debaters, RuDI programs serve as a one-stop solution for all debate-related resources, providing everything a school needs to build a successful debate program. RuDI champions and leverages the assets unique to rural communities and rural individuals, equipping students with a variety of skills such as communication, critical thinking, leadership, and teamwork that prepares them for any educational or career path of their choosing.