Norman High School - Trail Yearbook (Norman, OK)

Page 31 text:

Class Debates In order that debating in the high school might he made more general and pop- ular than would be possible with our small club, the entire student body was invit- ed and encouraged to take part. Each class acting as a debating club and having some member of the faculty as a coach, had class tryouts, until it produced to the school community a winning team for the class. Each team shared equally in local honor. The Hoard of Education offered a beautiful silver loving cup to the final winner among the four teams of the school. With renewed zeal the teams then began to show their real strength. The subject Unicameral Legislation for Oklahoma became a live issue. Public and private libraries were ransacked; state and national officers were interviewed; and there was ex- ercised considerable legislative and judicial ability. The Juniors went against the Seniors in the high school auditorium and were defeated. Later the Sophomores contested the Freshmen before a large audience and were likewise defeated. Now the tight was on; the townspeople as well as the students rallied to the moment. Freshmen vs. Seniors. Which shall it be. the youngest or the oldest? Freshmen and Senior colors vied with each other in happy expectation. The debate carried with the highest interest from the first to the very last word. Whether it was because of an almost Herculean effort on the part of the Freshmen or from confidence on the part of the Seniors we do not know, but when the judges rendered the decision it read. One for the Seniors and two for the Freshmen. With their names written in brilliant letters on a cup of silver the Fresh- men of 1914 are planning to enter high school as Sophomores of 1915 and again inscribe their names upon the cup. Hut there are also three other classes with the similar hope. So, it seems, in Norman High School in the matter of debat- ing the half has never yet been told. (29) i