Students will become teachers in a new course this fall.
That's when the Honors College will be offering Speak Up Tuscaloosa, a new service-learning course. Students who take the course will mentor seventh graders about the art of debate.
"It is not your average service-learning course," said Alex Flachsbart, a junior majoring in political science and economics. "It allows you to plug in and become a role model who wants to see these kids excel."
Implementers of the course hope to see it become more than just an outlet for debate.
"We want the kids to learn how to learn," said Flachsbart. "The best teachers make you want to learn."
Elizabeth Jones, a sophomore majoring in economics, said she thinks that this program is rewarding, because students will be able to see the effects they have on the community.
"It is a way to give a skill that will translate in so many ways," Jones said. "It is introducing the middle school students to the idea of someone who is totally devoted to helping them out."
Organizers for the course said they hope it will impact the community by bringing issues that are important to the community to the forefront of discussion in the classroom and at home.
"It is learning by doing, and that sticks with you for the rest of your life," Flachsbart said. "Anyone who signs up will be at the heart of change."
The program is made up of a lecture and lab components. The lecture time is Monday afternoon.
During the lab time, UA students will go to Hillcrest Middle School or Davis Emerson Middle School and mentor a pair of students. The semester will end with a debate tournament that pits the two schools against each other.
"This harnesses competitive energy for good, healthy competition," Flachsbart said.
This is the first time this course has been offered by the University, and it is still in its pilot stage.
Flachsbart and Jones are the two students who initiated the implementation of the course. Jones came up with the idea for the program, and Flachsbart aided in the planning of the program. They said Jacqueline Morgan, director for the University Honors Program, has embraced the idea.
"The Honors College is committed to building responsible, educated members of the community," Jones said.
Jones participated in Moral Forum and is a mentor at a local elementary school. She said both of these experiences combined to give Jones the idea to help mentor older children.
Jones said she wants to target these older children because her research showed that by the time children reach middle school they can become "disillusioned" working on the same subjects and struggling with the same concepts over the years.
Instructor permission is needed to sign up for the course.
Jones wants those interested to know that you already possess most of the skill required to be involved in this project.
"Debate experience is not necessary," Jones said. "You just have to be committed to the community and willing to learn."
Students who are interested in participating in Speak Up Tuscaloosa should e-mail Morgan at jacqueline.morgan@ua.edu
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