The Debate Skills We Teach Are the Ones Society Is Losing

Americans still celebrate debate as a cornerstone of democracy, yet healthy disagreement feels increasingly rare in modern life. As algorithms reward outrage, certainty, and performance over curiosity and persuasion, the ability to thoughtfully engage opposing ideas may be becoming an endangered skill.Corey Alderdice, a national voice on talent and transformation, explores the evolving role of debate culture in education and civic life, reflecting on his own background in competitive speech and debate while examining why the habits of inquiry, evidence, emotional regulation, and intellectual resilience matter more than ever in an age shaped by social media, polarization, and AI-generated persuasion.For additional thoughts from Corey, visit coreyalderdice.com.You can also follow him on Twitter/X, LinkedIn, BlueSky, YouTube, Instagram, and Threads.