New Trier Speech and Debate Team Code of Conduct
Overview
The New Trier Speech and Debate Team has had a long and successful history of excellence in the areas of
speaking and debating. In order to maintain this high reputation, a code of conduct has been established. The
rules and regulations of New Trier Township High School’s Student Handbook will be enforced during all
speech and debate team courses and activities. Students will also abide by all competition rules as outlined by
invitational tournament officials, the Illinois High School Association (IHSA), the Illinois Congressional
Debate Association (ICDA), the Illinois Speech and Theater Association (ISTA), the Tournament of Champions
(TOC) the National Catholic Forensic League (NCFL), the National Forensic League (NFL), and any other
tournament guidelines expressed by tournament hosts. The New Trier High School Speech and Debate Team
Directors and Coaches also reserve the right to enforce all verbal rules and regulations expressed to the team
during speech and debate team courses and activities. Students will remember that at all times they are
representing New Trier Township High School and act accordingly.
Academic expectations
Academic Performance
Members of the New Trier High School Speech and Debate Team will strive to excel in and out of the
classroom. Any member of the team who wishes to travel and attend speech and debate tournaments must
maintain a high standard of academic performance. The coaching staff reserves the right to deny participation to
students who are not meeting a standard of academic performance.
Procedure for missing class
Due to the nature of attending speech and debate tournaments, students may miss days of instruction over the
course of the school year. Because of the large amount of students and tournaments, the school has provided us
the ability to post student names and ID numbers for each excursion instead of having a teacher notification
card. This is of great help to the Directors of the program. Students are expected to discuss their absence with
each one of their teachers at the beginning of the year as well as arranging to complete course work before each
individual absence during the school year. This communication is crucial to individual student success as well
as the success of the speech and debate program.
General expectations
Moral and Ethical Conduct
As representatives of New Trier Township High School and specifically the New Trier Speech and Debate
Team, students will exhibit appropriate behavior both in and out of the classroom. Students representing New
Trier Township High School will continuously act in a manner that exhibits the highest standards of honor and
morality. At no time shall students use inappropriate language, exhibit dishonorable actions, degrade or abuse
others or violate the accepted rules of proper behavior. Students who violate the expectations of appropriate
conduct in or out of the classroom will have consequences for their actions.
Partnerships
Students acknowledge that in activities that require partners (Policy Debate, Public Forum Debate, Speech Duo
Interp. and Duet Acting) the Directors of the program with consultation of the coaches will make the final
decisions on these partnerships. Students will strive to work and cooperate with their partners. Students have a
responsibility to their partner to be on time, arrange schedules to attend similar tournaments, and treat their
partner with respect. It is the hope that partnerships made at the start of a school year remain in place for that
year. A change in partnership only occurs when all involved parties (Directors, Coaches, and Students) feel the
need to make such a change.
Work and Assignment Completion
Students in all areas of speech and debate will receive assignments to be completed by a specific date. Failure to
complete an assignment or failure to complete an assignment to the expected level can result in the student
receiving a lower grade in the course and not being allowed to attend tournaments.
Participation
Students are expected to exhibit positive participation during course time and during after school practice.
Arriving on time, completing assignments, staying focused and on task, taking notes, asking appropriate
questions, responding to questions, encouraging others, adding to small group discussion, being a good listener,
contributing ideas, raising hand to speak, allowing others to speak are all forms of positive participation.
Arriving late to class, not being prepared, speaking out of turn, disrupting the instructor or others, being rude,
personal attacks, working on other work, interrupting, showing no interest are all forms of negative
participation.
Working at home
Students are expected to work on their speech and debate assignments at home as well as during class time and
after school. Each individual student may have a unique task to complete at home due to the nature of the
course and the activity and its focus on personal development and growth. Individual initiative is an important
part of having a successful experience both in and out of class.
Laptop Computer
Students in all forms of speech and debate are encouraged to own a laptop. A small set of in class laptops are
available for students to use during the school day and after school. Students in Policy Debate are expected to
own their own laptop that they can take to tournaments. If this is not possible for any reason, students should
discuss this matter with the Director of Forensics and/or the Director of Debate. As Lincoln Douglas, Public
Forum, Congressional Debate and Extemporaneous Speaking are also moving toward paperless debate, students
who specialize in these areas may also need to own a personal laptop for class and competition use.
Safety expectations
Medical forms/contact forms
In order to take responsibility for students at tournaments, the Directors of the program require students to
submit a medical form and a contact form at the start of the school year before attending their first tournament.
The medical form will ask for allergies (especially foods and medicines) and any medical conditions. The
contact form will ask for all of the contact information for parents or guardians and at least one emergency
contact. If there are changes to medical information or contact details, students should notify the Director of
Forensics and/or the Director of Debate of these changes as soon as possible.
Alcohol, Drugs, and other abuse.
Under no circumstances will the possession or consumption of drugs or alcohol be tolerated. Students who
make destructive decisions will receive consequences regarding participation in the course, in the activity, and
will be reported to the school for appropriate action.
Appropriate Communication
Communication is vital to the success of a speech and debate program. In order to best monitor the safety of
students at tournaments as well as provide the best coaching possible, directors, coaches, and students will
communicate using personal cell phones and computers. Students acknowledge that these conversations should
remain about speech and debate only and that the personal contact information of fellow students, coaches, and
directors should not be given out except in cases of emergency. Students also need to self-monitor appropriate
behavior when communicating using these devices. Please refer to the moral and ethical conduct section of this
document for further explanation and consequences for inappropriate actions.
Communication with Parents/Guardians
Students are expected to communicate with parents/guardians providing them with the necessary information
regarding class requirements, upcoming tournaments, trip sheets, financial bills, travel schedules, clothing
requirements, as well as alerting parents/guardians of safe arrival at tournament destinations.
Tournament expectations
Tournament Sign-Up/Tournament Rosters
The Directors and Coaching Staff of the New Trier Speech and Debate Team reserves the right to set the
tournament roster to meet the needs of the team, reward diligence and commitment, and develop the squad for
specified competitions. They will make every effort to develop a schedule and tournament roster that allows for
the greatest number of participants within the constraints of the team budget, travel restrictions, and tournament
limits. Communication between all parties is crucial to filling a tournament roster. After tournament
registration, airfare, and hotel have been booked, any student who fails to attend the tournament will be assessed
the full cost of registration, airfare, and hotel associated with that trip. If a student has notified the directors and
coaching staff well beforehand of a necessary absence, that absence may be excused and the student may not be
assessed the cost.
Tournament Dress
It is expected that New Trier Speech and Debate Students dress professionally for all stages of competition.
During travel, students should wear nice casual clothing. For competitions: Men are required to wear dress
pants, a shirt, a tie, dress socks and dress shoes and for many events a suit. Women are required to wear dress
pants or skirt, a blouse, appropriate hose, shoes, and for many events a suit. Discussion and examples of
tournament dress will be presented at the start of the school year.
Watching Rounds
After students have been eliminated from competition at a tournament it is expected that they will watch
additional elimination rounds to learn from successful competitors. In some event categories eliminated
students will be asked to support teammates who are still competing. Students may also view other events at
the tournament in which they have an interest.
Travel and Hotel Etiquette
Students will conduct themselves in an appropriate manner at all times when traveling and staying in a hotel.
You are a representative of New Trier and the New Trier Speech and Debate team from the minute you leave
your home until when you return home. Being polite, helpful, well mannered, not loud, are important to
establishing a manner of decorum. Tournament officials, coaches, and specifically judges are always within
earshot of where you are and can witness inappropriate behavior even outside of the competition itself. In very
specific circumstances, students may be able to leave the airport gate area or hotel for the purpose of eating or
shopping and will be given permission and parameters by the Director of Forensics, Director of Debate, or a
tournament chaperone. Students will be liable for the physical condition of their hotel room. Any charges for
services (room service, movies, etc) must be approved by an adult in attendance and can be paid for by the
student at the front desk or in a restaurant or at the time of delivery. At no time should a student charge any
service to his/her room.
Costs
The New Trier Speech and Debate Program pays for tournament registration, judges, coaches, and some
transportation. Students will be responsible for airfare and hotel and will be billed through the school business
office. Students will also be responsible for their portion of meals on trips and should bring enough money for
three meals a day, approximately $35-$40 per day if out of town, $10-$15 if just a local tournament for
breakfast and lunch.
Airline and Hotel
The directors of the program work very hard to arrange for the least expensive tickets and accommodations that
also fit with the tournament schedule. We ask that students possess frequent flyer numbers with at least
American Airlines and United Airlines and will collect these at the start of the school year. Every effort will be
made to find the least expensive tickets that can accommodate all of our students, coaches, and judges as well as
fitting with the tournament schedule and trying to miss the least amount of class time. Students are required to
travel with the team and may not have separate flight or hotel accommodations.
Hotel Rooming List
The Director of Forensics, Director of Debate or tournament chaperone, will make hotel room decisions
factoring in gender, event category, tournament schedule, and personality. A great deal of thought is put into
these decisions. In order to monitor student safety, students cannot trade rooms or switch places. Students will
be required to share a bed with another student. Arrangements are made so that every student has a bed to sleep
on. A good night’s sleep is always a part of having success at a tournament and to that end no student should
sleep on the floor or on a couch.
Parent Transportation
Parents of New Trier Speech and Debate participants will be expected to pick up and/or drop off students at
school, certain local tournament locations, or be asked to help transport students to and from the airport. These
times are always located on the tournament trip sheet and are posted at least a week in advance. The Directors
of the program must be made aware of any changes to this arrangement prior to the start of the trip for security
reasons and for cost efficiency.
Pictures/Publicity
Parents and students acknowledge that pictures taken in class, during practice, or at tournaments may be used
by the New Trier Speech and Debate team for publicity purposes.
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Student Signature
_________________________________
Student Name (please print)
______
Date
_________________________________
Parent Signature
_________________________________
Parent Name (please print)
______
Date
Airline Info:
Student Legal Name _____________________
Birth date
_____________________
American Airlines # _____________________
United Airlines #
_____________________
Other #
_____________________
New Trier Speech and Debate Technology Guidelines
Overview
The New Trier Speech and Debate Team has had a long and successful history of excellence in the areas of
speaking and debating. In order to maintain this high reputation, a code of conduct has been established. Given
recent advances in technology and the move to “paperless” debate, a series of guidelines have been established
for the proper use of technology. The rules and regulations of New Trier Township High School’s Student
Handbook regarding the use of school computers will be enforced during all speech and debate team courses
and activities. The New Trier High School Speech and Debate Team Directors and Coaches also reserve the
right to enforce all verbal rules and regulations expressed to the team during speech and debate team courses
and activities. Students will remember that at all times they are representing New Trier Township High School
and act accordingly. Students should remember that using school computers is a privilege that can be rescinded
if student conduct is not appropriate.
General expectations
Clean Hard Drives
In order to keep high functioning computers, the hard drives of the classroom laptops and the policy paperless
laptops should be kept free of games, music, movies, etc. Students will use their personal folders on the
paperless website instead of keeping documents on different laptops.
Working Computers
New Trier provides these laptops for debate work, not fooling around. Students should not play games, go on
social networking sites, or do anything not related to their Speech and Debate assignment during class time or
after school.
Clean Computers
Students are not to change the physical structure of the computer. In particular, the “New Trier High School”
label and the laptop’s number should stay on, with no exceptions. Students are not to add new bumper stickers
to the computer.
Virus Scan
Simply put: run it/do not disable it. Under no circumstances should students turn off protective soft ware.
Paperless debate expectations
Assigned Computers
Teams will be assigned a laptop computer that has been purchased for the sole use of paperless policy debate.
Teams are responsible for the transportation, upkeep, and health of an assigned computer. Teams should check
the functionality of their assigned computer before departing for every tournament.
Assigned Laptop Stand
Teams will also be assigned a laptop stand. Teams are responsible for packing/carrying their laptop stand.
Debaters should have their own laptop
Students are expected to have their own laptop so that the assigned school laptop can be used as a viewing
computer. If this is not possible for any reason, students should discuss this matter with the Director of
Forensics and/or the Director of Debate.
Using Templates
Policy debaters producing files are expected to use the New Trier template for all files. This is necessary to
ensure paperless debating is consistent and easy. Debaters in other categories will also be asked to use a
template when submitting research and pertinent information.
Debating Paperless
Students debating paperless must have a viewing computer or give up a computer to teams who do not have a
computer in order for the opposition to be able to read your arguments in real time. Students need to be able to
transfer their speech from their computer to the viewing computer. A USB drive will be provided to each team
for this purpose.
Paperless Suggestions
Students will likely want a wireless mouse to make paperless debating easier as well as ensuring that they have
up to date security software on own computers. Both of these should be purchased by each individual student.
Internet expectations
Appropriate Online Behavior
Students are expected to avoid inappropriate websites, including but not limited to pornographic, violent, social
networking, or profane websites. Students are also expected to maintain a high level of professionalism and
decorum as a member of the speech and debate team. Inappropriate comments, emails, text messages, or blog
entries will not be tolerated.
No Downloading
Students should not download music, movies, games, or other applications not pertinent to Speech and Debate
while on the New Trier network or while using New Trier computers.
Information exchange expectations
Password integrity
Students are expected to keep team passwords secret. Students should know that their username and password
will be logged by the website and monitored for any irregularities.
Evidence integrity
Students are expected to not give evidence/arguments/strategies/pieces to other teams.
Consequences
Technology Guideline Violations
In order to ensure that the above guidelines are followed and that the integrity of the New Trier Speech and
Debate team remains high, the directors and coaches of the speech and debate program may impose at any time
a consequence for guideline violations.
_________________________________
Student Signature
_________________________________
Student Name (please print)
______
Date
_________________________________
Parent Signature
_________________________________
Parent Name (please print)
______
Date
New Trier Speech and Debate Coaches Code of Conduct
Overview
The New Trier Speech and Debate Team has had a long and successful history of excellence in the areas of
speaking and debating. In order to maintain this high reputation, a code of conduct has been established. The
rules and regulations of New Trier Township High School’s Student Handbook will be enforced during all
speech and debate team courses and activities. Coaches should be familiar with these rules. Coaches, like
students, will abide by all competition rules as outlined by tournament officials, the Illinois High School
Association (IHSA), the Illinois Congressional Debate Association (ICDA), the Illinois Speech and Theater
Association (ISTA), the Tournament of Champions (TOC) the National Catholic Forensic League (NCFL), the
National Forensic League (NFL), and any other tournament guidelines expressed by tournament hosts. The New
Trier High School Speech and Debate Team Directors provide the Coaches with the right to enforce all verbal
rules and regulations expressed to the team during speech and debate team courses and activities. Coaches must
remember and have an obligation to remind students that at all times they are representing New Trier Township
High School and act accordingly.
General expectations
Attendance
Coaches are expected to arrive in a timely manner for classes, practices, and tournaments to which they have
committed. Communication throughout employment is important. Coaches are expected to stay the entire
duration of the class, practice, and or tournament unless their early departure has been discussed with the
Director of Forensics and/or the Director of Debate.
Dress
Coaches should dress in a professional manner, as they are representatives of New Trier Speech and Debate.
Coaches should know which situations require dress that is more formal and situations where dress can be more
casual.
Positive Attitude
Coaches, through the nature of their job, are expected to promote student improvement by providing positive
reinforcement and constructive criticism. That does not mean that coaching should be sugar coated, but there
are ways in which coaches can achieve a desired result and still be encouraging to the student.
Student Interaction
Coaches will be around high school students in classrooms, on busses, in vehicles, on planes, in hotels, and at
tournament competition sites. It will be important to communicate with students using your cell phone and
email. Coaches are expected to interact with students in an appropriate manner. Phone and internet
communication should be restricted to discussions about Speech and Debate.
Alcohol and Drugs
Coaches are not to possess, distribute, or use drugs while responsible for New Trier students. Coaches who are
not of age are not allowed to possess, distribute, or consume alcohol while responsible for New Trier students.
Coaches are not to purchase drugs or alcohol for New Trier students under any circumstances.
Coach expectations
Completing appropriate forms
Coaches are expected to complete all necessary forms required for the position by the New Trier Human
Resources department.
Coordinating practice times with students
Coaches are expected to work with students to carve out time for coaches to work with students. This time may
or may not be after school.
Judge expectations
Understand event beforehand
Coaches are expected to become well versed in their event and the rules governing their event at the specific
tournament before attending said tournament.
_________________________________
Coach Signature
_________________________________
Coach Name (please print)
Coach Address _________________________________________________________
Coach Cell # _____________________
Coach SS#
Coach Home #______________________
_____________________
Airline Info:
Legal Name
_____________________
Birth date
_____________________
American Airlines # _____________________
United Airlines #
_____________________
Other #
_____________________
______
Date
New Trier Speech and Debate Judges Code of Conduct
Overview
The New Trier Speech and Debate Team has had a long and successful history of excellence in the areas of
speaking and debating. In order to maintain this high reputation, a code of conduct has been established. The
rules and regulations of New Trier Township High School’s Student Handbook will be enforced during all
speech and debate team courses and activities. Coaches should be familiar with these rules. Coaches, like
students, will abide by all competition rules as outlined by tournament officials, the Illinois High School
Association (IHSA), the Illinois Congressional Debate Association (ICDA), the Illinois Speech and Theater
Association (ISTA), the Tournament of Champions (TOC) the National Catholic Forensic League (NCFL), the
National Forensic League (NFL), and any other tournament guidelines expressed by tournament hosts. The New
Trier High School Speech and Debate Team Directors provide the Coaches with the right to enforce all verbal
rules and regulations expressed to the team during speech and debate team courses and activities. Coaches must
remember and have an obligation to remind students that at all times they are representing New Trier Township
High School and act accordingly.
General expectations
Arriving on time
Judges are expected to arrive in a timely manner for tournaments to which they have committed. If
transportation is needed, it is up to that judge to communicate with the directors of the program to arrange for
this well in advance. Communication is so important.
Staying the full time
Judges are expected to stay at the tournament for the entire duration of the tournament unless their early
departure has been discussed with the Director of Forensics and/or the Director of Debate as well as the
tournament host.
Dressing appropriately
Judges should avoid wearing revealing clothes or dress that might reflect poorly on New Trier High School.
Being a positive presence for students
Judges are expected to promote student improvement by providing positive reinforcement and constructive
criticism. The role of the judge is so vital to the success of any student presentation. Even one of the worst or
toughest rounds can be a growth experience for that student. Judges who are harsh and overly critical of
students may be relieved of their duties. Judges are expected to complete each ballot to the best of their
abilities. This would include making comments in every area as required by the tournament directors. Judges
are expected to complete ballots in a timely manner so that the tournament can run on time.
Maintaining proper boundaries with students
Judges will be around high school students in hotels and vehicles, sometimes communicate with students using
a cell phone and/or email. Judges are expected to interact with students in an appropriate manner. Phone and
internet communication should be restricted to discussions about Speech and Debate. Failure to follow these
guidelines will result in immediate termination.
No drugs/alcohol
Judges are not to possess, distribute, or use drugs while interacting with students. Judges who are not of age are
not allowed to possess, distribute, or consume alcohol during tournament times while being employed by New
Trier. Judges are not to purchase drugs or alcohol for New Trier students under any circumstances. Failure to
follow these guidelines will result in immediate termination.
Judge expectations
Understand event beforehand
Judges are expected to become well versed in their event(s) and the rules governing their event(s) at the specific
tournament before attending said tournament.
_________________________________
Judge Signature
_________________________________
Judge Name (please print)
Judge Address _________________________________________________________
Judge Cell #
_____________________
Judge SS#
_____________________
Coach Home #______________________
Airline Info:
Legal Name
_____________________
Birth date
_____________________
American Airlines # _____________________
United Airlines #
_____________________
Other #
_____________________
______
Date