Can we talk? Speech, debate make kids better communicators. Texting doesn’t | Williams

I can’t tell you how often I hear older adults scolding young people for spending too much time texting on their phones, rather than talking to one another, to family members or to anyone, for that matter.

I’ve been guilty of making that criticism. I remember when my oldest was in high school and had friends over. I walked into the room they were in, and everyone had their head down, staring at their phones. I asked, “Why aren’t you guys talking to each other?” They said they were talking, but they were texting. Not the same thing. Not even close.

Other parents have shared similar stories with me.

That’s a problem that I think schools have just recently started to realize. It’s why many schools, and all public and private schools in Kansas, have banned the use of cellphones in schools. In March, Kansas Gov. Laura Kelly signed a bipartisan bill mandating a “bell-to-bell” ban on phones in K-12 public and accredited private schools. And I’ve heard it works. Kids in these schools talk to one another.

They are improving their communication skills.

I love that idea. I believe the inability to communicate is at the root of a lot of social problems, and the inability of too many to resolve conflict without violence.

That’s why my eyes lit up when I saw a press release in my email about a local student who is one of the top speech and debate competitors in the country.

If there’s one thing that teaches a kid how to express themselves and verbally resolve conflict, it’s speech and debate competitions.

Kaedyn Blede, a student at Raymore-Peculiar High School, won fourth place in storytelling at the National Speech and Debate Tournament — five days of competition — held this year in Richmond, Virginia. More than 7,000 students from 48 states competed in the tournament last week. That means Kaedyn is among the best in the nation.

The six finalists, including Kaedyn, represent the top 1% of speech and debate competitors in the National Speech & Debate Association, which is the largest speech and debate organization in the country.

What these students do to win this competition, first in their community, then regionally and nationally, is communicate through storytelling using just the right body language, facial expression, tone and vocal inflection. These are things kids are supposed to develop naturally — maybe not honed to the level of the tournament winners — from talking to one another, rather than texting all the time.

The storytelling category is a five-minute event during which competing students each perform a published story as if presenting to a group of young children. Students can choose any theme, such as heroism, fairy tales or mysteries. Finalists are selected after multiple rounds of competition.

I remember being in speech and debate in high school and in college. I remember going to the national tournaments year after year.

I learned so much about public speaking, and it’s where I also developed my speaking voice and learned how to get my point across in a boardroom, to disagree in a conversation and back that up. But I had been building and strengthening that speech and language muscle for years, just talking with my friends and family every day.

In some high schools, speech and debate is a class that teaches students research skills, to consider multiple viewpoints and how to structure logical arguments, not just on paper but verbally as well. These are invaluable communication skills that prepare a child for higher education and the workaday world.

I really think that all schools should offer speech and debate as a class to all students, especially in schools where students are still allowed to be on their phones in classrooms.

Knowing how to communicate with people is so important. It empowers kids to resolve disagreements without resorting to aggression. Research has shown that excessive texting damages social skills. It whittles away confidence. I read about teens afraid to call in a food order. They would rather order digitally so they don’t have to talk to a person. Yikes!

So congratulations Kaedyn. You must be a heck of an awesome communicator.

Off The Vine

Below are stories about culture and identity from communities in the Kansas City metropolitan area. Go here to find more from Star reporter J.M. Banks.

The Black Rodeo will return to Kansas City’s Hale Arena this summer, and it’s going to be even bigger than last year’s inaugural event, which drew a sold-out crowd. Check out the details here.

In case you missed it, Kansas City’s Juneteenth festival was a big hit with hip-hop artist Common headlining the show. Banks wrote about all the happenings from the event.

Around The Vine

If you are looking for some fun and physical activity around town, check out Crown Fit Celebration, a two-hour MixxedFit masterclass and fundraising event designed to promote community wellness at 1 p.m. on Saturday, July 4, at The Next Paige, 5930 Troost Ave., Kansas City.

Jazz enthusiasts will love that the legendary jazz ensemble Mingus Dynasty, which started to carry on the music of composer Charles Mingus, is playing a one-night benefit for the American Jazz Museum from 7-9 p.m. Friday, July 30, at The Gem Theater in the historic 18th & Vine district.

Vine Picks

• Meet one of Kansas City’s most highly sought-after event planners. He’s been trying to make it big in his hometown for years, and now he’s everywhere and wouldn’t have it any other way.
• How does the 5% pay bump Kansas City Public School teachers got stack up against the cost of living in the city and state?\
• Family members of the man believed to be the suspected highway shooter may have discovered his body inside a burned-down house in the 700 block of South Brookside Avenue in Independence, that police searched a week ago. How did police miss the body? Opinion writer Toriano Porter has something to say about that.

Your voice matters to us. What local issues do you want to hear discussed in On The Vine? Let me, Mará Rose Williams, The Star’s senior opinion columnist, know directly at mdwilliams@kcstar.com. Thank you for reading.

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This story was originally published June 25, 2026 at 11:07 AM with the headline "Can we talk? Speech, debate make kids better communicators. Texting doesn’t | Williams."