About Delbarton Forensics
More than an extra-curricular.
The Delbarton Forensics Society is like no other program at Delbarton. Our program makes room for diverse voices and creates opportunities for students that don’t exist elsewhere on campus. We strive to fulfill Delbarton’s mission of building character, developing leadership, and educating the whole person throughout the year in our research and public advocacy-driven environment. Specifically, competitive speech and debate enable students to continuously develop their stories and arguments in efforts to participate in the highest levels of civil discourse. As a result, we inspire students to become more interested learners, thinkers, and advocates for themselves and their peers.
Regionally & Nationally Competitive
Unlike other activities, Delbarton Forensics competes with both the top students in New Jersey and the best in the entire country. Specifically, The Delbarton Forensics Society is one of the most active programs in the country, competing at more than 30+ tournaments each year and students finishing in the top 14 in the country for the past several years.
Delbarton Forensics is a member of multiple national organizations: the National Catholic Forensic League (NCFL); the National Speech and Debate Association (NSDA), the largest Speech and Debate association in the world; and the University of Kentucky’s Tournament of Champions (TOC), the country’s most competitive end-of-season tournament. Students primarily compete in travel national tournaments in hopes of qualifying to these national championship tournaments in the Spring term.
The program has competed at tournaments all over the country, including Harvard, Yale, Columbia, Emory (Georgia), Bronx HS of Science, Princeton, Univ. of Kentucky (KY), Blake (Minnesota), University School (Florida), Glenbrooks (Illinois), Mid America (IA), more.
Scholarly & Research Driven
Forensics tackles major social, economic, and political issues both from a domestic and international lens. It requires students to not only keep up with the most current news but also dive deeper into topics at an undergraduate and graduate level of research. Along with learning the nuances behind complex issues, students learn how to develop logically sound and well-structured arguments and speeches, preparing material for both sides of a topic.
In speech events, many of these topics stem from personal experiences with ongoing social issues.
In debate events, the previous season had students debate Chinese economic development with the Belt & Road Initiative, the benefits and harms of U.S. cyber operations, economic sanctions in Venezuela, the potential for a universal basic income policy, and the military presence in the Persian Gulf. This past season had debaters focus on Medicare-For-All, nuclear proliferation, data privacy, infra-African policy-making, U.S. space policy, international economies, and social media.
Year-Long Growth & Brotherhood
We aim to educate the whole student - not just to win competitions, but also to develop essential portable skills throughout the year. Specifically, speech and debate help students develop research, critical thinking, organization, persuasion, and communication skills. These skills also benefit students after high school - they help them build confidence in speaking situations, spontaneity in interviews, improved writing skills, and diverse perspectives. Thus, our students not only win in their competition rounds but remain competitive with their classroom learning and growth as educated and well-spoken young men.
Additionally, Delbarton Forensics fosters a sense of brotherhood that lasts the entire year, not just a single term. Our program practices, competes, travels, and spends downtime to bond with each other virtually every week of the year, making our program a family that will support you through all of high school.
Middle School Friendly
Delbarton Forensics is for middle school students too! Our focus for middle schoolers is to introduce them to forensics, explore different events, and develop their skillsets in preparation for high school.
Still, middle school students receive amazing coaching, tournament, and team experience. They receive instruction at a novice to JV level, compete with other New Jersey middle school competitors, and even go head-to-head against younger high school debaters across the country. Overall, we help our younger middle school kids find a passion for forensics and while learning how to become competitive debaters.
Here, Your Voice Belongs
Our program doesn’t believe in tryout cuts or capping for just a few to join - there’s always room to be part of our brotherhood. We encourage all Delbarton students, regardless of their identity, background, experience, beliefs, and abilities, to participate in our speech and debate events. Our program, while competitive, believes the true mission of forensics is to help students learn, fine-tune, and develop their unique voices. And as long as you are committed, this mission is open for anyone to join. #HereYourVoiceBelongs!