Why We Make the Raggants Stand Up and Speak Before an Audience
If my records are correct, our first Rhetoric Tournament was in January of 2017. Back then it was dubbed the “Speech Tournament,” and by my math that makes this year’s version our tenth annual!
That was quick.
In that time the Tournament has only gained momentum and gravity, drawing all the Secondary students into its vortex. With a mountain of Secondary House points on the line (not to mention bragging rights), the stakes are higher every year.
When something is around for a decade, it can become part of the cultural fabric. There’s less of “Why do we do this?” and more of “We’ve always done it that way.” Perhaps this is a good time to review why we practice so much public speaking at ECS. Let me suggest three quick benefits of rhetorical practice.
Rhetorical practice helps a student to establish credibility. (Ethos) Any rhetorician who wishes for his audience to believe him must establish some credibility. If a speaker has his reasoning and his argumentation is completely dialed in but happens to be a selfish jerk, all his devices are for naught. Or as a far better man than I am once said, “If I speak in the tongues of men and of angels, but have not love, I am a noisy gong or a clanging cymbal” (1 Cor. 13:1). Quintilian defined a rhetorician as “a good man speaking well”…but he must first be a good man. And such “good” men will emerge as leaders in the generation to come.
Rhetorical practice inspires others to follow. (Pathos) Ours is a culture that is increasingly dependent on artificial intelligence and communication via text message rather than face-to-face. A man who can speak the truth with both boldness and grace will inspire others to follow a compelling man unto their own blessing.
Rhetorical practice helps a student to order his thoughts. (Logos) We utilize a series of rhetorical exercises called the Progymnasmata, which were developed to help the trainee articulate himself on his feet in a host of contexts eloquently and persuasively. Latin (an inflected language) and logic classes help students learn to be careful and even precise with their language, but when it comes to ordering thoughts and ideas, Rhetoric is particularly helpful.
Of course, there’s a lot more that can be said about ethos, pathos, and logos, and much has been said elsewhere. But these are some of benefits that come to my mind when thinking about our Rhetoric Tournament.
This serves our mission well. If we wish for our students to “carry and advance Christ-honoring culture,” then they’re going to need to speak well. The rest of our curriculum gives them something to say; Rhetoric gives them the tools to say it. The Secondary Rhetoric Tournament (and the Grammar Speech Meet, and more!) gives them an opportunity to practice this important skill.
If you want to see what that looks like, stick around next week and find out!
Risus est bellum!
Jonathan (the U.H.)