Bedford High School - Torch Yearbook (Bedford, IA)

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gf 7 If ' BLADOW 'NEVIUS CHILCOTE Declamatory y The ncef' of rublic Speaking in the High School can scarcely be over-esti- mated. lt is L tmining which makes an lasting impression on the student and is of Value :Nl thru life i11 whatever profession or business he may followg for the ability to express ideas intelligently is not o11ly a rare gift but almost necessarjv in ino'ler'1 days. Trziining for it should not be ignored. Ueclnnmtory work gives every student in High Schoollthe opportunity to help provide for this need, and to develop latent talent. ' The flontest itself, and winning of prizes, is secondary to the real purpose of the teziebiuq as perhaps the student marked lowest on the score cards has in reels ity derircd the most benefit from the training. For the past three years it has been the policy of the Bedford School to hire an outeide couch for the Dcclalnatory work. This year Mrs. Helen Moody has acted if this capacity and has been very successful in her work, not only from the standpoint of winning contests, but also in interesting students in the funda- mentals of public speaking. 1 Much interest was shown by the students, evidenced by the fact that forty- three entered the preliininaries. From these the following were chosen for the final contest: Freshmen-Lena Reith, Eulah Blake, Sophomores: Ruth Purcell. Ruth Nevins. Helen Cover, Ehner Bladowg Juniors-Donald Willianis, Mildred Cade, Elaine Nleikleg Seniors--Kenneth Chilcote, Thelma Meikle, Blanche Hart- Mun. The final contest was held February 18. The winners were: 0ra.torical-- Kenneth Chileoteg Dramatic-Ruth Nevins, Humorous-Elmer Bladow. The first contest of the state series was held at New Market February 26, where Kenneth Chilcote won first place in Oratorical, Ruth Nevins second in Dramatics: Elmer Bladow second in Humorous. On Merch 17 the second of the state series was held at Greenfield, where Kenneth represented us again in Oratorical. In a very close contest, he won second place, thus eliminating us for further contests. - -, ' 29? V' . .1 um' F-Nil' Page . Thirty

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.f f BLADOW WATERMAN SMITH CHILCOTE Debate Bedford is one of the best towns in 'Iowa for debate. The unusual interest shown by the people 'off the town, 'has' furnished 'the 'inspiration which has 611- abled our debate teams to make a record which is perhaps unequalled by any other town in the state: It is our custom to 'start Work on debate at the begin- ning of the school year, but this year nothing was done until after the fifteenth of November, the latest date for sending in our .enrollment fee. The question was an unusually interesting one, Resolved that the U. S..sl1ould join the League of Nations. By the time the material for debate reached us it was too late for the preparation of set speeches for the preliminary debate. The speak- ers all spoke extemporaneously. The following students took part: Marjorie imith, Marjorie Meikle, Dean Price, Elmer Bladow, Blanche, Hartman, Ople vvaterman, Beulah Phillips, Angeline, Wintermute, Clorus Rush, Ruby Jones. Mrs. moody, the declamatory coach acted as judge and selected the following student to represent the chool: Marjorie Smith, Captain, Ople Waterman, Elmer Bladow. Kenneth Chilcote was later added to the list. As the preliminary debate was held just before Christmas holidays, it was necessary to spend most of the time during vacation, in preparation for the first debate. Our season's schedule was as fol- rows: Bedford vs. Creston, January 9th, Bedford vs. Atlantic, January 23rd. bedford vs. Stanton, February 9th, ' Bedford vs. Council Bluffs, February 20th. In the first two debates Bedford in each case won a unanimous decision. In the third debate we supported the affirmative. Stanton had a strong, confident team and put up a convincing argument, Bedford kept their argument well under cover during their constructive speeches, thus weakening their opponents rebuttal and came back with a brilliant rebuttal which completely snowed under their opponents and won by a two to one decision. On the evening of February 19, the Bedford dcbaters made a pilgrimage to the historic city of Council Bluffs to compete in the semi-finals with the Abraham Lincoln high school of that city. In this district, out of thirty-two schools competing in the first debate of the series, only four remained: Blockton, Osceola, Council Bluffs and Bedford. The debate was in the High School Auditorium before a large audience composed of students and friends interested in debate. Our speakers made a fine effort but the fates Cjudgesj were against us and we lost by a three to nothing decision. Later Osceola won from Council Bluffs, in the finals, thus winning the Champion- ship of S. W. Iowa. They also won the Championship of Western Iowa by de- feating Estherville. In May they will compete with the Champions of Eastern Iowa for the Championship of the state. Osceola has a strong team, composed of three boys who have debated tobether for three years. They have won all their contests this year by unanimous decisions and we are hoping that in the near future they will be champions of the state. ' U- ,. ' 1' 1 ,Q ff 'e .alll 5 'Page Thirty-one