Imagine a middle school labeled 'persistently dangerous,' its enrollment plummeting from over a thousand students to a mere 160. This was the grim reality facing Middle School 50 in Brooklyn, New York, just a decade ago. But here's where it gets inspiring: Principal Benjamin Honoroff, a former high school debate coach, had a bold idea. He didn't just want to fix the school; he wanted to transform it through the power of debate. And this is the part most people miss: he didn't just start a debate club; he integrated debate into every single class, across all grade levels. Controversial? Maybe. But the results speak for themselves.
Honoroff expanded the debate team, with a third of the students joining and a select group traveling to tournaments. Seventh grader Aria Rana credits debate for her academic growth: 'My writing and vocabulary have improved so much since joining the team.' But debate wasn't just for English class. Even in math, students were encouraged to explain their reasoning, deepening their understanding of concepts.
Here's the kicker: Within a few years, test scores soared, enrollment rebounded, and the debate team began winning competitions. Proficiency rates jumped from single digits to 60% in English and 70% in math. Erick Williams and Anedwin Moran, once sixth graders who weren't even registered debaters, went on to win the national championship in policy debate as eighth graders. 'It felt like a journey worth taking,' Williams reflected.
This transformation wasn't just about academic success; it was about rebuilding a community. 'There's a deep pride in this school now,' Honoroff said. 'People stop me on the street to say, 'I went to that school—keep it going.'
But here's the question: Could debate be the secret weapon for struggling schools nationwide? Or is this success story unique to Middle School 50? Let us know what you think in the comments below.
Tags: Brooklyn, Education, New York
