The Vermont Debate and Forensics League was created in 1978 to promote interscholastic speech competition. The VDFL conducts a full schedule of debate and public speaking tournaments hosted by participating schools throughout Vermont during the fall and winter seasons as a co-curricular activity. Currently most secondary schools in Vermont treat forensics (speech) and debate as co-curricular activities. Several schools have formal courses in public speaking.

The Schedule

The VDFL hosts an annual introductory workshop where interested students and teachers can see the events demonstrated by experienced students. The forensics (public discussion/rhetoric) program begins in October with weekly tournaments held on either Friday afternoon/evening or Saturday morning. Starting in December, Friday night and Saturday debates are held periodically where students formally debate the national public forum debate topic or one designed on a Vermont issue. Both the debate and forensics seasons conclude with the Vermont Principals' Association sanctioned tournaments at the State House in Montpelier where the top speakers and teams are crowned Vermont state champions. Vermont is currently part of a National Forensic League district which includes eastern part of the state of New York. This association allows member schools to qualify students for the national competitions.

Public Forum Debate

Public Forum Debate involves a two person affirmative (pro) team competing against a two person negative (con) team. Each side has time to develop its arguments for and against a proposition, with opportunities to cross examine members of the opposing team, and to sum up the debate in rebuttal speeches. “Citizen judges", who are drawn from the community, do the evaluating. Judges provide a written critique of the debaters' performances and also indicate the winning team. At a tournament, top teams as well as top speakers in each division are recognized by the presentation of awards.

The resolved topic changes monthly but always is an issue of current discussion. State tournament topics recently used in Vermont have involved standardized testing and big box stores.

Forensics – Public Speaking

The Forensics program includes eight events. They are the interpretation of prose, poetry, drama and duo interpretation, extemporaneous and impromptu speaking, original oratory, and radio announcing. A meet or tournament includes three rounds where students present to a judge, or in some cases judges. Judges then award both a rank as well as points to each speaker thereby determining the top speakers in each category as well as the top teams.

In prose, poetry and drama , the students select a piece from an established and published author to recite (generally about three to five minutes in length). Duo Interpretation brings two students together with a dramatic piece of 6 to 10 minutes in length. Students are allowed to do selective cutting from their pieces. Impromptu Speaking requires the student to select a short, broad topic from everyday life and present a two to three minute speech after one minute of preparation. Topics might include learning to drive, the first dance, or buying clothes. Extemporaneous Speaking gives the student thirty minutes of preparation time to develop a five to seven minute speech on a topic of current national or international interest. The selection could include a ceiling on athletic salaries, gun control, Middle East issues or the politics of the day. Original Oratory requires the student to write and memorize a six to eight minute persuasive speech directed at having the audience take action. Abolishing grades or lowering the drinking age are good examples. Radio Announcing involves a three-minute presentation of news, sports, weather and a thirty-second student written commercial.

The Organization

The VDFL is governed by the advisors and coaches of the debate and forensics programs as well as the bylaws and policies of the Vermont Principals' Association. As the VDFL Constitution states, the group's purpose is to stimulate an interest in and expand knowledge of interscholastic speech competition, encourage the same, support workshop activities, promote school debate and forensics activities and foster good sportsmanship among the members.

Membership is by school and required for participation in the scheduled tournaments. The annual fee is twenty-five dollars. Participating schools can affiliate with the National Forensics League, and coaches are encouraged to join the National High School Federation Interscholastic Speech, Debate and Theater Association.