8 The Acorn DEBATING Among the many opportunities that the Academy affords for the instruction and education of the student debating ranks among the first. Although there have been no contests yet, each class is working hard, and will soon have their teams ready for inter-class debates. At basket ball games, track meets or any field contests students from both sides turn out by the hundreds to cheer their team on to victory. Since, in our estimation, debating is of more importance than any other school competition, both in training the intellect and gaining reputation for the school, we sincerely urge that each student contribute what he can to make the strongest school team possible. If he cannot debate he certainly can do as much towards encouraging those who are debating as he could towards helping a basket ball team to win a game. Each class would like to see their team win in debating more than to have them win in field contests, and the best way to accomplish this is to give them your support. To give them your support is to let them know that you are behind them by attending the debate and cheering them on. Then, when a victory is won, you feel that you have helped win it, and when by chance defeat is the result the debators will not have to bear the defeat alone, as the school team of last year did on one occasion. Not only should the students attend debates for the purpose of helping their class or school team win, but for the education derived from it. The question chosen for debate this year is, "Resolved, That the tariff should be imposed for revenue only." This is a question that has occupied the minds of our nation's greatest men, and students who are Christmas, 1909. 9 striving to become useful in the government will find no better way of gaining knowledge than to become acquainted with such subjects. In order to promote debating in the Academy the class of 1905 presented the school with a beautiful silver trophy cup, which is to have engraved on it the numerals of the winning class of each year. This alone has worked up interest in debating. Last year the class of 1911 won the cup, and are working very hard to hold it this year. Each class is now busy selecting from a number of debators their class teams, which contest with each other, the winning one having the privilege of engraving their numerals on the cup. On January 11 the Freshmen and Sophomores debate. On January 13 the Juniors meet the Seniors. This will probably be one of the hardest fights for class championship. The winners of the Freshmen and Sophomores meet the winners of the Juniors and Seniors on January 19 for championship. It is hard at present to guess which class will win the cup, but it is to be hoped that the Seniors will not. D. G., '11.