Speech Trek Update By Ann Arneill

Speech Trek is getting into full swing with our busy fall season.

All nine campuses in the Elk Grove Unified High School District participate in our public speaking contest. Now is the time we recruit students to participate by distributing our promotional materials and having students sign up for workshops scheduled for November, which Shari Beck and Ann Arneill will conduct. At these workshops, we inform students about the contest rules, present the topic, give them resources for researching the topic, and provide public speaking tips. Once the students who decide to participate have completed their speech drafts, we will give them feedback on their speeches.

The topic this year is very timely:  If an educated population is essential to a nation’s prosperity, then how can we ensure a robust public school curriculum that is accessible to all and teaches historically accurate information?

The contest will be held on Feb. 10, 2024 at Cosumnes River College, so put that on your calendars!

Don’t forget about the Speech Trek Challenge, which will be held via Zoom on Jan.13, 2024.  Members will have a chance to discuss the topic in advance of the contest to pique their interest.

The Speech Trek Committee would like to expand its membership. Working on Speech Trek is very gratifying. You are helping high school students develop a skill that is no longer taught in public high schools. Public speaking will help them in their future schooling and their careers. There are a variety of tasks that committee members can do with varying degrees of responsibility. Please consider volunteering for this committee.