The East Meadow School District is pleased to announce that the East Meadow High School Model Congress received the Best Delegation award during the January 15 competition at Wantagh High School. “We are very proud of the students who arrived at this competition as a powerhouse team ready to debate the issues of the day,” co-advisor Liz McLaughlin stated.
Model Congress is a debate-style club which allows members to sharpen their oratory skills. During competitions, the students use parliamentary procedure to debate issues such as Supreme Court decisions, domestic matters, philosophy and other topics during a forum modeled after the U.S. Congress. During a debate, two speakers have two minutes to voice their approval for or opposition to an issue, and a general debate on the topic ensues. There is then a move to vote on the issue being debated.
Ms. McLaughlin explained that Model Congress has grown over the course of the past several years and now boasts a strong membership. Fifty students act as foreign delegates who travel to the weekend competitions. Ms. McLaughlin also pointed out that, although she and co-advisor Joe Byrne advise the Model Congress, the club is essentially student-run. The benefits of belonging to Model Congress include opportunities to sharpen public speaking skills and the learning of parliamentary procedure and decorum.
Foreign delegate Anxhela Mile explained that Model Congress is an excellent way to meet new people and hone skills that can be applied to future career choices. “We are debating and speaking about the issues we love,” she stated. “These skills may be precursors to skills we will need in our chosen careers.”
Varun Gandhi and Neil Khosla, also foreign delegates, said it is the environment that draws them to membership in Model Congress. “We meet people in different schools who are like-minded and with whom we can discuss similar ideas,” Neil stated.
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