There’s a Speech and Debate Club in Bryan/College Station?
What is the Brazos Valley Rhetoric Club?
We are a Christian Homeschool Family Speech and Debate Club for families in the Brazos Valley area. We are also affiliated with the National Christian Forensics and Communication Association (NCFCA).
We provide a means for Homeschool students to learn and exercise analytical and oratorical skills, addressing life issues from a Biblical world view in a manner that glorifies God.
1Peter 3:16 “But in your hearts set apart Christ as Lord. Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have. But do this with gentleness and respect, keeping a clear conscience, so that those who speak maliciously against your good behavior in Christ may be ashamed of their slander.”
We also facilitate club meetings every Tuesday from 4:00-8:00 PM at Emmanuel Baptist Church, conferences, and tournaments in the Brazos Valley area.
Interested Parents
If you are interested in joining ANY speech and debate club, here are a few very helpful things you can do to see what its like:
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- Judge a tournament: We would recommend that you do this first, as the tournaments are the essence of what speech and debate is. You can see a complete calendar of Texas NCFCA tournaments here.
- Visit a club meeting: After you have been to a tournament, look for a club in your area and visit a few of their meetings. Some clubs close to the Brazos Valley Area are the Houston Logic & Rhetoric Club and the Austin Rhetoric Club. The Brazos Valley Rhetoric Club meets every Tuesday from 4:00-8:00 PM, and we would love to have you visit us.
Get Involved
If you are interested in participating in Speech and Debate, here are few ways to see it in action.
Watch a Meeting
To see where we meet and at what time, see our “Contact” page.
Judge at a Tournament
This is the best way for interested parents to see what Speech and Debate is really like and what it can do for their student. The NCFCA hosts several tournaments every year all over Texas and they are always in need of judges.
The only qualification you need to judge is a pulse.
As a judge, you will be orientated, get free food, and be able to enjoy a whole variety of entertaining speeches with your family. To get information about judging and to get connected to tournaments near you, click here.
“It was my pleasure. These kids are phenomenal. Our nation is in good hands, God willing with these moral, upright and disciplined children. I applaud all the dedicated parents who have raised them.” ~ Community Judge, Richardson Tournament
Tournaments take place during the Fall and Spring Semesters, but mainly during the Spring.
Each of these events need hundreds of community and parent judges. Consider spending a few hours some weekend giving these students helpful feedback!
It really is not as scary as it sounds. You don’t have to have any prior experience, you are fed FREE FOOD, you may pick as many three hour time slots as are convenient for you, there are judge orientations all throughout the day (to tell you what you need to know) and the only qualifications you need are to be at least 19 years old.
It is an easy and crucial investment you can make in your home school students that ends up being a lot of fun!
What others have said about tournaments:
“It was such a privilege participating in the Austin event. The 1st day I judged, I couldn’t wait to tell my husband that ‘Yes, there is a future; and I just mingled with the leaders of that future today’. I was so impressed with the quality of students. They were all so informed, polite, respectful and just a joy to be around.”
~ Community Judge, Austin Tournament
“I would love to participate again next year. It was such a fun day – I’d actually like to do more next year now that I know more about it. The students were amazing – so poised, well-mannered and very articulate!
“Thanks for letting us know about it. I’ll look forward to hearing from you when you know the details for 2014.”
~ Community Judge, Austin Tournament
“I wanted to thank you as well for the opportunity – I heard through my local toastmasters club & was so glad I went. Your students are very impressive & the parents as well for supporting them in such a way. I was thoroughly blown away with my experience and have so much hope for our future.”
~ Community Judge, Richardson Tournament
“I enjoyed the event very much. So glad I could help the students and the organization. I wish there was a way to recall who I voted for to see how they all faired out. I should have written down the names. I would like to come next time and to find out how I can get my kids involved THIS summer.”
~ Parent Judge, Austin Tournament
“I was the one that was blessed to see the performances on Saturday! The preparation and professionalism displayed by the students refreshed a weary spirit for the state of education in today’s society.”
~ Community Judge, Richardson Tournament
“Thank you for the wonderful opportunity to judge the fantastic students… This was truly a blessing to us and we would love to judge anytime your group needs folks like us to volunteer. These young professionals are a great representative of our adults that will continue to lead America!”
~ Parent Judge, Austin Tournament
Related Websites
For more information about Christian homeschool family speech and debate clubs, check out these websites:
The National Christian Forensics Communication Association (The NCFCA)
The NCFCA is our parent organization. They host the tournaments and facilitate the national competition each year. You can learn more about them at www.ncfca.org.
BVRC Email List
If you are interested in receiving email updates about Speech and Debate events in the Brazos Valley Area, you can subscribe to our mailing list.
The Austin Rhetoric Club (ARC)
ARC is another speech and debate club in Austin. They helped found BVRC, and continue to cooperate with use to give the best learning experience to our students. You can find them at www.austinrhetoricclub.org.
The Houston Logic and Rhetoric Club (HLRC)
HLRC meets in Houston and could be a viable alternative club for those members who live closer to the Magnolia area. You can find out more about them at The Houston Logic and Rhetoric Club.
Home School Legal Defense Association (HSLDA)
We recommend that homeschooling families join HSLDA. Even if you never experience legal trouble yourself, your HSLDA membership will help enable other homeschooling families to get the legal help they need and will help defend our right to homeschool here in Texas. Membership in HSLDA also gives you personal access to the legal staff; HSLDA’s experienced high school, special needs, and toddlers to tweens consultants; and discounts through HSLDA’s PerX program. (For more information about HSLDA’s many benefits, see www.hslda.org.) BVRC members SAVE $20 off the HSLDA membership price when you enter our Discount Group code on the HSLDA membership form. Please contact the Parent Board at pbd@bvrctx.org for the code.
DFW Speech and Debate
DFW Speech and Debate meets in the DFW Area and hosts several speech and debate camps throughout the summer. It also has some good teaching material. You can find them at the DFW Speech and Debate website.
Integrity Communication Speech and Debate Camps
IC hosts several speech and debate camps over the summer. You can reach them at the Integrity Communication Speech and Debate website.