Show S The The- elements of a l successful program By Mark This year I have had the privilege of working with some of the best and finest students at Uintah High and as asfar asfar asfar far as Im I'm concerned some of the best and finest in the state Even though all of the Speech and Debate competition is not over I would like to offer some observations about what turned a somewhat average program into a very one Hopefully by doing this I can thank all of the people whom I 1 think made the difference First and most important it takes the right kind of students I have coached in athletics and have watched both athletics and debate coaching very closely I am convinced that the talent and dedication of the participants is infinitely more important than anything I or any other coach can can do This year in Speech and Debate our club has had over bright intelligent intelligent in in- working hard-working students One of the ingredients the students have to have is a goal those students set their goal at the first of the year at taking first in Region Many of the students have been involved involved in in- in in what sometimes seem like a thousand activities that are constant inconstant in conflict with one another but in spite of that a large share of these students have kept that goal in mind and worked toward it contributing the amount of time they could and helping in their own Individual ways In debate we started the year with over 35 teams Just by being one of those 35 teams a pair of students contributed to our recent success in debate because they made It an honor onor to be among the final eight They also helped by spending hours at the first of the year cutting up evidence and pasting it on cards for the file boxes by competing against each other by helping type up materials for forthe forthe forthe the debate team by judging each other in debates in class and in intramural contests and finally by giving praise and support to the teams that won honors at tournaments Second cond it takes the help of some outstanding faculty members Debate and speech are not activities that one person can teach a student how to do The thinking process required the use of logic l the ability to listen the ability to read aloud and critically to oneself ones the vast amount of subject matter that needs to be accumulated throughout the years all of these things are necessary and one person in one year cannot do it What success the Speech and Debate team has acquired this year Is Indicative Indicative In In- of the type of teaching that goes on at all levels of the Uintah School Scho District One teacher who has helped contribute very much to our success i is Wayne Gurney at the junior high rugh Whenever you have sophomores who wh bring home the kind of honors that tha Jolynn Jackson Jeanne Gross am and other sophomores brought home this thi year you know that someone ha has taught them the fundamentals o of speech earlier and Mr Gurney ha has done an excellent job of that Third it takes an administration am ama and anda a district staff that is willing to support both financially and with encouragement encouragement en en- a program that they fineto find fine to be educationally as beneficial a as debate and speech Our program ha has definitely received all the encouragement encouragement en en- and reinforcement possible from the administration It has hai also received significant financial backing Finally and probably second mos most important a program needs the support support support sup sup- port of parents The sacrifices that tha many of the parents have made this year have been gratifying to me and U Uthe to the students in our program Sometimes it is just inconveniences like getting up at 3 am a.m. to take their son or daughter to the high school for a trip and then returning the next morning morning mor mor- ning at the same time to get them Sometimes it is the sacrifice of the time that maybe the family could spend together but one of the members has to tc torun torun run off on a tournament or up to the school to do extra hours of preparation Finally sometimes the the- sacrifice Is a a financial one paying for motel rooms buying file boxes buying cards paying for meals on trips etc This year has made me ever more mort aware of the dedication that many ol of the parents in this community have in ir regard to the education and well being of their students I want to express my mj gratitude to these parents for that thai dedication and also I want to compliment com com- compliment on the quality of the children they have brought up I would especially like to recognize the parents of the 16 students w who o helped take first this week in debate They are Thomas and Denie Jackson Lance and Jolynn Thomas and Francis Bridges Cindy Frank and Betty Devlin Jim Corey and Corrienne Thedell Terrance Earl and Jeanne Gross Gress Jeanne Marland and Betty Stagg Ron Roni William and Marie Linton Bill BiU Clinton and Lou Baxter Scott Jack and Janet Wallis David Ed lad and Marilyn Melanie Larry and JoDean Williams Chuck and Peggy Voss Vms Misti Gibbs Albert and Liz Beacham Scott Many Lee and Laura Rura Spurlock Cindy Spurlock |