Learning the power of debate

Members of Seaford High School’s Model Congress admit that the purpose of the club can be a little difficult to explain, but say the academic enrichment and hours of enjoyment it provides are second to none.

“On the outside, it’s a debate team,” said senior Mike Biaggi. “Once you get there, you realize there’s a lot more to it.”

Seaford and Wantagh high schools combine to make up a Model Congress club of about 50 students, with roughly half from each school. On Jan. 8 and 9, Seaford High welcomed six other schools and more than 200 students for a competition.

Students take part in mock debates over topics both real and fictional, some mimicking issues being considered in the U.S. Congress. During a competition, students are split up into different groups where they debate there issues. Following the model of any legislative body, one person will sponsor a bill, and others will speak either for or against it, before a vote is taken.

Seaford, as the host school, did not take part in any of the debates. “That’s the sacrifice for hosting a Congress,” Biaggi said. “You want to make sure everyone else has a good time.”

Members of the Seaford-Wantagh team had to order food for the Friday dinner and Saturday meals, prepare meeting spaces and select bills for the other teams to debate. They also hosted members of the other teams at their homes Friday night. “It’s like a sleepover,” senior Kailey Parker said, noting that some members had up to 10 other people stay at their homes between the two days of competition.

A host school cannot win that competition, but the Seaford-Wantagh team has racked up its fair share of trophies. Each school hosts one competition per year, and Seaford-Wantagh won at the first meet of the year, in November at East Meadow High School. Of the eight teams that participate, seven are on Long Island. The other is New Rochelle, which has the oldest Model Congress club in the country, dating back to 1964.

Each competition also features various spirit events, which earn points for the teams. The theme for the recent competition was “Road Trip Across America” and each team represented a different city. Seaford-Wantagh members dressed up as people from New York, including one who was the Statue of Liberty. It was a fun way to begin the second day, the students said, after dressing formal Friday night.

Model Congress officers Biaggi, Parker, Maggie Crean and Thomas Mineo all say that they joined the club based upon the recommendation of someone else. Parker signed up her freshman year, learning about it from the older brother of a friend. She then got Crean involved, Crean’s older brother got Biaggi involved, and Biaggi convinced Mineo to join.

“It’s not a well-known club,” Biaggi said, “but everyone who joins and lets themselves get into it never regrets it. You have to be there to understand.”

The advisers are band teachers Anthony Romeo and Chris Coniglio. They mostly take a back seat and let the students run the club. Romeo explained that the club teaches them leadership, builds confidence and helps with their public speaking skills.

“It teaches you teamwork and how to problem solve,” said Parker, adding, “Debating well is really important to winning.”

Principal Scott Bersin, who participated in Model Congress in his days as a student in Oceanside, said the club is a valuable part of the school. It is an authentic way for students to practice their persuasive argument skills, he added.

“It does provide a high level academic experience for kids,” he said. “It has a special place in my heart.”

The Seaford-Wantagh team participates in its next Model Congress competition on Jan. 29-30 at Oceanside High School.