Great Debate at Center Stage
Students argue pros and cons of cutting school funding

By Matt Weaver · The Mainstream
Published March 8, 2011

A debate over whether or not to cut school funding in order to create more jobs for the community was performed by the UCC debate club at Whipple’s Center Stage on Feb. 25. The debate topic was selected by students. Seventy-eight students signed their names obtaining extra credit, but more were in attendance.

“I felt strongly towards keeping funding in education,” said first year UCC student Mayra Flores, who was on the side defending education. “It’s hard enough as it is.”

The debate opened with a short statement from debate club president Chase Gilley.

The debate featured Austin Snelling, Simon Stacey and Maritza Flores who argued for cutting school funding, and Sam Rodriguez, Rod Gordon and Mayra Flores who argued against cutting school funding.

Two main arguments were presented that were pro cutting education funds. The primary argument was the U.S. is falling behind in many forms of education, though we spend the most out of any country on it. They also argued that people have gotten degrees and left college without a career opportunity in front of them.

The arguments against cutting education were mostly focused around a changing world that constantly needs new education to enter new jobs. With education costs rising, they stated we can’t keep cutting funding to education because we need to prepare for the future.

Just because students were on a side of a debate didn’t mean they truly supported the cause. “We all felt opposed to our side. It was hard,” confessed second year student Maritza Flores, who convinced her sister Mayra to join the debate club this year.

It seemed a conflict of interest to be a student on the side arguing to cut school funds. Though no one was for cutting schooling funds, the arguments were just as strong on either side.

No decision on a “winner” of the debate was announced. Gilley explained to me: “We’re a non-competing team. We don’t have judges. If we had a program at any point then we could actually compete.”

The debate club is a way to earn extra credit for students in classes taught by Paula Usrey, the debate club advisor. For those interested, the debate club meets 12 p.m. to 12:50 p.m. in Snyder 18.