THE SENATE	S.C.R. NO.	162
TWENTY-NINTH LEGISLATURE, 2017		H.D. 1
STATE OF HAWAII

SENATE CONCURRENT

RESOLUTION

ENCOURAGING THE DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION, HIGH SCHOOL ASSOCIATIONS, AND HIGHER EDUCATION INSTITUTIONS IN HAWAII IN PARTNERSHIP WITH DEBATE ORGANIZATIONS TO WORK WITH THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES COMMITTEE ON LEGISLATIVE MANAGEMENT TO PROMOTE EVENTS FOR STUDENTS TO DEBATE ON CURRENT ISSUES AFFECTING HAWAII AND THE NATION.

     WHEREAS, debate events provide an opportunity for participants of diverse cultural, geographical, philosophical, and political backgrounds to have meaningful discourse on critical issues; and

WHEREAS, debate events allow participants to present their viewpoints and to address opposing arguments in a respectful manner; and

     WHEREAS, debating helps participants increase their knowledge, improve communication and public speaking skills, foster analytical and critical thinking, and develop poise and confidence; and

     WHEREAS, in addition to these assets and skills, students involved in debate teams also acquire listening and collaborative skills, the camaraderie of peers, and the mentorship from debate teachers; and

     WHEREAS, these assets and skills can be applied to all aspects of a student's interpersonal relationships, education, and future professional career; and

     WHEREAS, students who debate on current issues are more likely to understand the significance of, and consider solutions and engage in civic activities related to, the issues that are debated; and

     WHEREAS, Hawaii Speech League and Debate Hawaii host debates whose participants are students and Hawaii's debate community, respectively; and

     WHEREAS, Hawaii Speech League sponsors a diversified program of speech activities, including debates, for public and private intermediate and high school students; and

WHEREAS, Debate Hawaii has held public debates at the Hawaii State Capitol for members of Hawaii's debate community to discuss various topics over the years; and

     WHEREAS, the House of Representatives Committee on Legislative Management is designated as the lead committee in the coordination of requests for educational debates; and

     WHEREAS, high school and college students would greatly benefit from the opportunity to debate at the Hawaii State  Capitol on current issues affecting the State and the Nation, in a manner that is similar to the public debates sponsored by Debate Hawaii; and

WHEREAS, organizations should promote more debate events as resources allow; now, therefore,

     BE IT RESOLVED by the Senate of the Twenty-ninth Legislature of the State of Hawaii, Regular Session of 2017, the House of Representatives concurring, that the Department of Education, Hawaii Association of Independent Schools, Hawaii State Public Charter School Commission, Hawaii Homeschool Association, the University of Hawaii System, Hawaii Pacific University, Brigham Young University-Hawaii, and Chaminade University of Honolulu, in partnership with Debate Hawaii and Hawaii Speech League, are encouraged to work with the House of Representatives Committee on Legislative Management to promote events for Hawaii public and private high school students and higher education students to engage in the debate of current and relevant issues, including legislative measures, that affect the State and the Nation; and

     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the House of Representatives Committee on Legislative Management select a panel comprised of members from the Legislature, legislative aides, or community leaders before whom the student participants will debate; and

     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the panel will choose the topics on which the student participants debate; provided that the topics are current and relevant to the State and Nation; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the debates be held at the Hawaii State Capitol, and in a manner that follows the rules of the Legislature; and

     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that certified copies of this Concurrent Resolution be transmitted to the Superintendent of Education; Chairperson of the House of Representatives Committee on Legislative Management; Chairperson of the Board of Regents and the President of the University of Hawaii; Executive Director of the Hawaii Association of Independent Schools; Executive Director of the Hawaii State Public Charter School Commission; Director of the Hawaii Homeschool Association; President of Hawaii Pacific University; President of Brigham Young University-Hawaii; President of Chaminade University of Honolulu; President of the Hawaii Speech League; and President of Debate Hawaii.

Report Title:

Debates; Students; Capitol