Competitive debate, also known as forensics or speech and debate, has a history in the United States dating back to colonial times. The practice, an import from British education, began as in-class exercises in which students would present arguments to their classmates. Over time it evolved into a variety of specific debate formats overseen by national organizations, including Public Forum, Lincoln–Douglas, Policy, and British Parliamentary. Participation in competitive debate is associated with positive outcomes for competitors across a wide variety of metrics, including standardized test scores, civic engagement, and future career outcomes. The activity has been criticized for forcing participants to defend positions they may not agree with and for its inaccessibility to laypeople at its
