Hockaday’s debate program emphasizes the art and skills of persuasion, logic and argumentation as well as competitive success. Students learn critical analysis and research techniques applied to competition in Lincoln-Douglas and Public Forum Debate. Students at Hockaday first take a debate course in either Seventh or Eighth, and then in Upper School debate is offered as a Fine Art elective. Class work includes philosophy, current events, ethics and effective public and extemporaneous speaking. Hockaday’s debate team participates in tournaments throughout Texas and in a number of national tournaments with notable success. Students also learn important leadership skills in hosting the Hockaday tournament in November and an exclusive round-robin tournament dedicated to women in high school debate.