The pressure builds as students tackle the first round of competition. They must answer judges’ questions in the style of Congressional hearings, showing a thorough understanding of democracy and the ways it connects to their lives today.

In high schools across the country, there is a growing belief that debate-based pedagogies improve civility and academic success by encouraging students to think critically, engage in high-level academic discourse, and construct compelling arguments. We follow students in Boston and Chicago public schools to witness the methodology’s impact.