What We Do
What is the Middle School Public Debate Program?
An initiative of the Claremont McKenna College Forensic Institute, MSPDP serves over 40,000 students in the United States and across the globe by providing world-class debate experiences. During monthly tournaments, teams of three students each from a consortium of local schools engage in animated debates pertaining to salient social issues such as universal basic income, recall elections, and pandemic lockdowns. In order to prepare for these competitions, organizations such as Cicero Academy host regular meetings during which students conduct research and practice their rhetoric.
At Cicero Academy, we provide students to participate in the Middle School Public Debate Program (MSPDP) through the Rancho California Debate League (RCDL), which primarily incorporates schools across the San Gabriel Valley. During monthly tournaments, students at Cicero Academy compete against schools such as Mayfield Junior School, High Point Academy, LILA, and Chandler.
In order to prepare our debaters for these tournaments, we convene virtually once per week in meetings where we impart instruction in public speaking, conduct drills and activities, host practice debates, and conduct research. By engaging with public speaking, students develop the foundational skills of rhetoric and analytical thinking. Meanwhile, through the process of researching diverse topics from the ethics of civil disobedience and the legacy of slaveholder monuments to the ramifications of social media and the epidemic of gun violence, we investigate pertinent social issues and construct frameworks for comprehending politics in conjunction with economics.
Frequently Asked Questions
Below are some answers to some frequently asked questions. If your inquiries are not answered here, please reach out to dario@ciceroacademy.us
How Much Does Participation in Cicero Academy Cost?
Zero! We offer our services and tournament articulation free of charge. It is our mission to break down the prohibitive cost barriers of debate, thereby ensuring that any middle school student can access the opportunities associated with speech and debate. Each of our coaches are volunteers, and we raise funds through grants and donations to finance tournament participation.
When and Where Are Tournaments?
In-person tournaments occur monthly in the Southern California area through the Rancho California debate Program. For those who cannot commute to these tournaments, we offer participation in online tournaments operating in the National Speech and Debate Association's Tabroom software.
Over What Period Does Cicero Academy Operate?
Cicero Academy operates over the entire academic calendar and will continue to do so in the forthcoming years. We may offer instruction during the summer; please look out for more details.
Does Cicero Academy Have a Program for High School Students?
Since we ourselves at Cicero Academy are high school students, we do not currently provide instruction to other high schoolers.