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Millswood eighth-grader Samantha Titus argues why a Wal-Mart Supercenter would be bad for Lodi. She was one of 25 students to participate in a debate competition at the Lodi Boys and Girls Club. (Brian Feulner/News-Sentinel)
Local students debate Wal-Mart issue
Clad in over-sized suits and dresses with sneakers, about 25 Lodi middle school students held notecards with trembling hands and spoke with shaky voices.
The teens attempted to answer a question that has been discussed incessantly in Lodi for the past seven years: Does Lodi need a Wal-Mart Supercenter?
"We're teenagers. We like to fight with people," said Samantha Titus, an eight-grader at Millswood Middle School. "We fight with our parents, so we should use our ability to debate."
During the month before the debate, students had spent hours after school training with teachers and staff from the Lodi Boys and Girls Club. Seventh-grade history teacher Marlon Gayle said he had a hard time getting the all-girl team from Christa McAuliffe Middle School to leave school on Fridays.
"We give our heart into it," said Jessinia Ahrens, a McAuliffe seventh-grader. "We take it seriously, but we have fun with it."
The Thursday night showdown between six middle schools was the fourth and final debate. This is the first time the school district has tried an after-school debate program.
Those in favor of the Wal-Mart Supercenter argued that it will create jobs in a tough economy, provide the city with extra revenue, give consumers low prices and even reduce gas emissions by letting people shop for clothes, get their nails done and eat at McDonald's all in the same location.
"It'll give jobs to clerks and employees not only in the store, but lawyers and construction workers are needed for the construction (as well)," said Amber Buhagiar, a seventh-grader at Delta Sierra Middle School
Students opposed to a Supercenter talked about how businesses could close, whether it would make Lodi lose its small-town feel, the increased pollution and other environmental impacts from a Supercenter, and Wal-Mart not paying its workers enough.
From left: Kathleen Collins, Kevin Harkin and Neil Young judge a debate contest between Lodi middle schools. They are administrators for the Lodi Unified School District Bridge After-School Program. (Brian Feulner/News-Sentinel)
"Are these jobs that we really want when they are denying healthcare?" said Berkley Price, an eighth-grade Millswood student.
Since starting debate, Jeisen Elemen has noticed that the team of three boys and two girls that he coaches are less nervous with public speaking.
"They were very quiet," Elemen said. "Now, they are coming up and speaking out in front of a live audience," he said.
Eighth-grader Dario Leventini said that since joining Elemen's debate club, he has learned better research techniques.
"It will be a good experience if you are going to debate in high school," Leventini said.
After judging three of the debates, the students have come a long way, said Kevin Harkin, who is the vice president of the Bridge After School Program for the district. The students have learned the proper way to dress, how to slow down when they are talking, and to speak louder.
Next year, Harkin hopes the debate clubs will have more students participating. The skills will be helpful when the students do Senior Projects in high school, and he said some might even be able to get scholarships for college with their skills.
"They learn how to research a topic, think on their feet and present themselves in front of a crowd," Harkin said.
Contact reporter Maggie Creamer at maggiec@lodinews.com or read her blog at www.lodinews.com/blog/citybuzz.
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dogs4you wrote on May 22, 2009 11:27 AM:
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