The Boston Debate League (BDL) is a non-profit organization that works in partnership with the Boston Public Schools (BPS) to support academic debate teams in local high schools and train BPS teachers to use debate as a regular part of their classroom practice.
Becoming a tournament judge is one of the most helpful ways to volunteer with the Boston Debate League. As a judge, you would be asked to evaluate student debates. Specifically, you would listen to the debaters, take notes, offer encouragement once the debate round is over, and then determine a winner. Plus, it's easy. Becoming a volunteer judge requires no previous debate experience and accommodates all commitment levels.
BDL tournaments are the centerpiece of our programming and also our biggest need for volunteer judges. Each debate, we will need approximately 200 judges so all of our students can participate in what is to them the highlight of their year. Tournaments start on Friday late afternoon and end Saturday early evening.
Our next debate is scheduled for February 8th at 9th. Listed below are the available time slots and locations. Please register at www.bostondebate.org/signup and fill out a CORI form.
- Shift 1: Friday, February 8th. 4:15-8:00pm (training session at 3:45, dinner provided)
- Shift 2: Saturday, February 9th. 8:15am-12:00pm (training at 7:45am, breakfast and lunch provided
- Shift 3: Saturday, February 9th. 12:00-6:00pm (training session at 11:45, lunch and dinner provided)
- Shift 4: Saturday, February 9th. 8:15am-2:45pm Middle School shift (training at 7:45am, breakfast and lunch provided)
- Site One: TechBoston 9 Peacevale Ave Dorchester, MA 02124
- Site Two: English High School 144 McBride Street Jamaica Plain, MA 02130
With additional questions please contact Boston Debate League's Volunteer Coordinator, Sarah Amaral, at 857-239-9557 or sarah@bostondebate.org.
