Annual Political Debate

For more than 30 years, St. Joe's has hosted a highly-anticipated political debate between candidates of elected offices. The participants, often determined by high public interest in a local race, are invited by the school to partake in the annual event. In recent years, candidates have begun to reach out to St. Joe's in the hopes of securing their spot on the school's debate stage.

 

Students enrolled in AP Government have the honor of developing and posing questions to the candidates in front of a packed gymnasium of students, faculty members, and local media. Other key tasks are assigned to students, such as timekeeping and fact-checking - all happening during the live debate. 

 

Mr. Lina, AP Government teacher, hosted the first debate in 1984. The event has evolved over the years, but the continued success is due to Mr. Lina's personal passion for local politics and government policy. Leadership of the debate is now shared with Mr. McHale '87, AP U.S. History teacher and former debate participant from his high school days at St. Joe's.

 

The debate is a clear example of experiential learning combined with meaningful discussion and thoughtful reflection - a valuable process that occurs throughout the academic experience for students at St. Joe's.