What is the difference between Podium Power debate classes and a debate club?
The choice for each family is a personal preference. The home school debate league is comprised of both formal debate/speech classes and debate/speech clubs. Both use the same resource books to prepare their cases. Over the course of a school year both cost about the same based on attendance at 2 tournaments. Debate clubs are informal and rely on parents to coach events. Most clubs I am familiar with have a wide age range from 9-18. Most in Texas require at least one parent to attend each club meeting. Meetings are once or twice per week and can last as long as 4-5 hours. Some clubs have coaches who have previous debate or public speaking experience, however, most rely on parents to learn to coach. Many clubs require members to attend at least one debate camp. The classes I teach meet once a week for 1 1/2 hours. Students enrolled in Podium Power debate classes automatically become members of Podium Power Forensics Club, the name under which we participate at tournaments. Although I am
