Parents Frequently Asked Questions
- How do I get my child involved in the Computer Assisted Debate Program?
If they are in the 6th, 7th, or 8th grade at Benjamin Carson Honors Preparatory Academy, they need to go the Chorus Room after school on Tuesday, Wednesday, or Thursday. Dr. Larry Moss, the project team leader, will help them get involved in the activities.
- What are the costs for the program?
There are none. All instructional costs, transportation for field trips, and summer workshop fees are paid for from external funding for a variety of community partners.
- When does the program meet?
It begins at 4:00 pm every Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday with after-school snacks and finishes each of those days at 6:30 p.m.
- What if I can’t pick up my child at 6:30 p.m.?
School buses pick up the children at Carson each day and have drop offs at Bowen Homes and Hollywood Court Apartments.
- Are my children properly supervised?
Teacher to student ratios run approximately one faculty member for seven children in the program. The faculty are college professors, graduate students, and undergraduate college students. The program requires a lot of student activity, leaving the children no time for outside activities.
- Will my child always stay on the Carson campus during the Computer Assisted Debate program?
Yes, except in instances where the children are given the option to go on field trips. Before each field trip, the students have to bring signed permission forms from you.
- Will my child debate against other middle school children from metro-Atlanta?
Yes, again with your permission. Each month, the students in the program have the option to participate in Saturday debate tournaments that draw approximately 200 children from schools across metro-Atlanta.
- Do you provide transportation for the children to the Saturday debate tournaments?
Yes, the Computer Assisted Debate Program will provide transportation both to and from the tournaments.
- What are the times for the Saturday debate tournaments?
Pickup for the tournaments usually happens at 7:30 a.m. The time varies by a few minutes depending on where the tournament is being held. The precise pickup times are told to the students the week before each tournament. The tournaments will end between 4:00 pm and 5:00 pm.
10. Do you provide lunch for my child at the Saturday debate tournaments?
Yes, lunch and snacks are provided free of charge.
- Can I observe my child in the Computer Assisted Debate Program?
Absolutely! We encourage parents to come to both the after-school program on Tuesdays, Wednesdays, and Thursdays and to the Saturday debate tournaments. If you want, we would be happy to train you to serve as a debate judge for the tournaments or you can simply watch the debates. Seeing the awards program at the end of each tournament can be very exciting…you may see your child win either individual or team awards against other students throughout the region.
- Can you describe the summer workshop program?
The program runs from 9:00 am to 5:00 pm, Monday through Friday for two weeks in June. The students receive intensive instruction on how to research over the internet, how to construct arguments, how to organize their thoughts, and how to deliver a persuasive message. The goal of the program is to make learning fun for the students. A number of games teach the students critical thinking skills.
- Who teaches the summer workshop program?
College professors and college students from across the nation. A core of the faculty will be those that work with your child throughout the year, but they will be supplemented by debaters and debate coaches from around the country.
- Will food be provided?
Yes, breakfast, lunch and snacks will provided daily.
- Will transportation be provided?
Yes, for all students whose parents have signed permission forms for them to participate in the program.
