Dorothy Brush "Random Thoughts" Published Oct. 20, 2004

Have debates lost their importance over the years?

Seldom will the word "debate" garner news headlines for at least another four years. The formal televised debates are over. Because I felt it was my civic duty I watched each debate, but did they change my mind? No, and on the second day of absentee voting I joined the long line which stretched outside the doors of the court house annex.

When I finally reached the registration desk I asked if the first day had been this busy. The clerk said yes, it had been a record number of voters and it looked as though the second day would be even greater. I found it interesting that on the first day the voters had not viewed the final debate between the presidential candidates. That seemed to indicate there were not many undecided voters in our area.

In earlier days, debating societies were an important segment of the social life in Crossville and Cumberland County. Teachers in the local schools organized formal contests in which two opposing student teams defended and attacked a given proposition. Correspondents for the newspaper always mentioned these debates.

In 1922, the North Crossville correspondent reported that a debating society for the young men was being organized as well as a Literary Society for the girls. The writer praised these organizations as strengthening character, adding poise and self possession. In addition, because team work is brought into play, the experience makes men and women worthy of responsibility.

In 2004 a recent column by Charles C. Haynes asks, "Are we equipping kids for debating with reason and civility?" He pointed out that young people are alienated from the political process, uninformed about public policy and unlikely to vote. He believes it is because civic education has been given a very low priority. Until the 1960s as many as three courses in civic, democracy and government were part of the school curriculum today a single semester course on government is given.

A former resident John Rose wrote a letter to the Chronicle in 1926 telling that he cast his first vote in 1876 at age 21 on the grounds of the old Antioch church in the seventh district. He continued to reminisce, "One of the most important institutions ever organized in Cumberland County was the Cumberland Debating Society. This great dispenser of eloquence and learning was organized at the Haley Grove school house, sometime during the early seventies."

He continued, "Its founder was one William Selvidge, a Baptist preacher. I cannot remember the names of all who belonged to this society but prominent in the list were S.C. Brown, J.W. Dorton, A.A. Haley, F.P. Hossler, and C.L. Deatheradge. Brown, Dorton and Deatheradge were always regarded as formidable opponents in the discussion of deep subjects. No subject was ever found that was too deep and profound for this noted society to tackle. Many of the dark places in history were illuminated, and the knots and kinks in scientific problems were removed by this body of sages."

Rose ended with this thought, "The foundation of the useful and successful lives which many of that group attained were laid in their lives while members of the Cumberland Debating Society." That belief lives on in 2004 . Just last week USA Today devoted a full page in their business section on the importance of debating skills in business careers.

The author wrote, "The debate discipline is laden with skills necessary to business." He listed those skills as exhaustive research, being flexible, ability to get to the point quickly and to know the opponent better than they know themselves. All those skills add up to making tough choices under pressure.

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Dorothy Copus Brush is a Fairfield Glade resident and Crossville Chronicle staffwriter whose column is published each Wednesday.