As technology continues to play a large role in society today, the Walpole High School Speech Team challenges this social norm, encouraging students to learn how to speak with others face to face —rather than through texting or the use of social media.
This year, the team has more than one goal in mind; not only do they hope to have a successful season, but they also want to bring the benefits of the Speech Team to the entire student body at WHS. Recently, Ms. Emily Loflin, the adviser of the team, put forth the idea of adding a public speaking class to the list of electives offered to Walpole High School students next year.
Open to all students, the public speaking course centers around the objectives of the Speech Team; the class allows any student to improve his or her communication skills without having to be a member of the Speech Team. Based on a class Ms. Loflin taught during her time as a student-teacher at Framingham High School, the course will consist of lessons on various types of speech presentations including debates, interviews, and informal speeches.
Ms. Loflin said, “I definitely feel that a public speaking class would help students speak better- not only publicly, but it would also help students have more confidence and poise when they speak to people. We live in a world where technology has taken over, and too many people rely on texting and emailing.”
Recently, the Program of Studies has added the public speaking class; however, until the School Committee decides if new staff will be added to the English Department, the course will not be made an option next year.
As the Speech Team continues to advocate for the creation of the new class, the club continues to compete in their fourth season. They have already participated in several competitions throughout the state this year. However, they had not received any trophies for their efforts up until their most recent events. Finishing 8th out of 32 schools at the Winter Festival Tournament (Newton-South High School) and 12th out of 29 schools at the Holly Festival (Natick High School), the team was awarded their first team trophy in the club’s three years.
“The team did really well as a whole because there weren’t just individuals who won the placement for the team; it was a group effort and a really big accomplishment for us,” said freshman Ellen Irmiter.
With interest in the Speech Team growing, more students have joined, expanding the team from 15 students to about 30 students for the 2014-2015 school year. While the team utilizes its new underclassman, they have been able to place higher in tournaments than ever before.
“The involvement of more students in the tournaments, along with improvements by each competing member, has helped our young team beat out schools who have had speech teams for many years,” said Ms. Loflin.
While the team includes several new members, it is the veteran students who have dramatically improved from last year and act as leaders to the newcomers.
After not qualifying for the State Competition last year, junior Eileen Cooney is eligible for States in two categories this season.
Additionally, having been two of the four members on the team to qualify for States last year, junior Grace Hoegler and senior Samantha Corcoran, President of the club, have again also been nominated to compete in the State Speech Team Competition this season.
For the first time in club history, the team will also send one individual to Nationals: junior Tess Lancaster. The tournament will take place this May, during Memorial Day Weekend in Fort Lauderdale, Florida.
Lancaster said, “Qualifying was a surreal moment for me because overall, it felt like an accomplishment for the whole Walpole Speech Team, not just me.”
