National Speech and Debate Education Day is a holiday observed on the first Friday in March and is designed to prepare students for public speaking. It has been known for a long time that debating not only improves a student’s ability to make a cogent argument but also enhances critical thinking skills, research skills, conflict resolution, emotional control, and much more.

So, perhaps it’s a good idea to celebrate this holiday and encourage more students to sign up for the debate club. And while we’re at it, we can use this holiday to thank the teachers and coaches who guide these students through their debates.

The History of National Speech and Debate Education Day

This holiday was created by the National Speech and Debate Association—otherwise known as the NSDA. This organization created the holiday to celebrate and recognize the positive impact that debate and speech activities have on students, schools, organizations, and the communities they are in.

The holiday was made official in 2016 when the U.S. Senate passed a resolution declaring March 15, 2016, as National Speech and Debate Education Day. The following year, the date was set as March 3, 2017. It would not be set for the first Friday in March until after 2018.

Observing National Speech and Debate Education Day

Students should use this holiday to explore opportunities in speech and debate at their school. Students who are already engaged in these activities can use their knowledge to inspire other students to join as well.

And everyone can give teachers and coaches heartfelt thanks for all their work in this field. If you don’t know anyone in speech and debate, you can give a general shout-out to educators over the Internet using the hashtag #SpeechandDebateEducationDay.